fractional orbital bombardment system: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

No operational FOBS are currently deployed by major powers, as they were banned under the SALT II treaty (though not ratified, its terms were generally observed). However, modern weapons like certain hypersonic glide vehicles are sometimes discussed as having similar strategic effects.

It refers to the weapon completing only a fraction (a small part) of a full orbit around Earth before de-orbiting to strike its target, as opposed to a weapon placed in a permanent orbit.

The Soviet Union tested a FOBS capability in the 1960s and early 1970s. It was a direct response to US ballistic missile defense systems of the time.

An Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) follows a predictable, high-arcing parabolic trajectory. A FOBS uses a low Earth orbit, allowing it to approach a target from any direction (e.g., over the South Pole), potentially bypassing traditional northern-facing radar defences.

A theoretical or actual weapon system where a warhead is placed in a low Earth orbit and can be de-orbited to strike a terrestrial target from any direction.

Fractional orbital bombardment system is usually technical / political-military in register.

Fractional orbital bombardment system: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfræk.ʃən.əl ˈɔː.bɪt.əl bɒmˈbɑːd.mənt ˈsɪs.təm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfræk.ʃən.əl ˈɔːr.bɪt.əl bɑːmˈbɑːrd.mənt ˈsɪs.təm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.