US missile threat assessment: Gabbard says Pakistan missiles could target the United States

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told the Senate Intelligence Committee that Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile work could produce systems able to target the United States. She said the US Intelligence Community expects overall missile threats to rise from more than 3,000 today to more than 16,000 by 2035, citing advances by China, Russia and North Korea.

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told US senators that Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile work may include weapons that can reach the US. Gabbard also said the overall missile threat facing the US was expected to grow sharply. The estimate rose from more than 3,000 missiles now to over 16,000 by 2035.

Gabbard delivered the remarks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. The testimony formed part of the Annual Threat Assessment from the US Intelligence Community. The report focused on strategic risks from states with missile and nuclear programmes. It also assessed how newer systems could add pressure on US defences over time.

US missile threats and Homeland range risks

"The US secure nuclear deterrent continues to ensure safety in the Homeland against strategic threats. However, Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and Pakistan have been researching and developing an array of novel, advanced, or traditional missile delivery systems with nuclear and conventional payloads that put our Homeland within range,\" Gabbard said.

\"She said the US Intelligence Community IC assesses that threats to the Homeland will expand collectively to more than 16,000 missiles by 2035, from the current assessed figure of more than 3,000 missiles.\" The assessment described this as a combined total across several countries. It also flagged the pace of work on both nuclear and conventional delivery options.

US missile threats from China and Russia

\"The IC assesses that China and Russia are developing advanced delivery systems meant to be capable of penetrating or bypassing US missile defences,\" Gabbard said. The testimony said these efforts were aimed at reducing the effectiveness of US interception systems. It did not give numbers for each country. It described the developments as focused on survivability and access.

US missile threats involving North Korea and Pakistan

The intelligence chief said North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missiles already had range to hit the US. The testimony added that North Korea remained committed to increasing its nuclear stockpile. On Pakistan, Gabbard said, \"Pakistans long-range ballistic missile development potentially could include ICBMs with a range capable of striking the Homeland,\" Gabbard said.

US missile threats linked to Iran and Operation Epic Fury

Gabbard said Iran had shown space-launch and related technology that could support an ICBM path. The testimony said Iran could build a militarily usable ICBM before 2035 if Tehran chose. \"However, these assessments will be updated as the full impact of Operation Epic Furys devastating strikes on Irans missile production facilities, stockpiles, and launch capabilities is determined,\" Gabbard said.

US missile threats and one-way attack UAVs

The Annual Threat Assessment said one-way attack UAVs were spreading and could act like missiles. Still, it said China, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, and Russia would keep prioritising advanced missiles that can threaten the US. The report added that militaries were likely to combine top-end missiles with cheaper expendable systems. It said this pairing could strain US missile defences.

US missile threats and wider use of force

The 34-page report said that even without war between major powers, other states were more ready to use force. It named Egypt, Israel, Pakistan, Turkey, and the UAE as using lethal aid, proxies, or their own forces. It said these tools could pressure rivals and shape nearby conflicts. The document also noted more covert actions below open war.

The assessment said states were increasingly willing to use deniable coercion and violence short of war. It listed sabotage, assassinations, detentions, and non-lethal attacks among such methods. It also cited the use of migration as a weapon in some cases. The testimony and report together framed these trends as part of a broader security picture.

With inputs from PTI