1983

March 23
President Ronald Reagan delivers Star Wars speech, in which he calls upon the scientific community to devise a space-based defense system capable of protecting the United States from intercontinental ballistic missiles. He describes his plans for new anti-missile technology as "a new hope for our children in the 21st century."

June 17
US Air Force conducts first test flight of the Peacekeeper missile, a four-stage intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying up to ten independently targeted re-entry vehicles.

June 27
In an interview with the West German magazine Der Spiegel , the French defense minister announces that France has tested a neutron bomb and is able to start production as soon as the president so decides.

September 1
Korean Air Lines Flight 007 is shot down by two Soviet Sukhoi Su-15 fighters. Click here for a complete description of the accident.

November 14
As part of its "Double-Track" strategy NATO begins to deploy American ground-based nuclear cruise missiles in the United Kingdom.

November 20
The Day After airs on the ABC television network to an audience of 100 million viewers. The movie portrays a fictional account of the United States after a nuclear war.

November 23
Deployment of Pershing II nuclear missiles begins in Germany. In response, the Soviets discontinue the arms control talks in Geneva, Switzerland.