The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty

Washington D.C. - 8 December 1987

The United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, hereinafter referred to as the Parties,

Conscious that nuclear weapons have never been used in Europe and that the Parties have no need to use them,

Desiring to strengthen strategic stability,

Convinced that the measures set forth in this Treaty will help to reduce the risk of outbreak of war and strengthen international peace and security, and

Mindful of their obligations under Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,

Have agreed as follows:

Article I

Each Party shall eliminate its intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles, not have such systems thereafter, and carry out the other obligations set forth in this Treaty.

Article II

For the purposes of this Treaty:

The term “ballistic missile” means a missile that has a ballistic trajectory over most of its flight path. The term “ground-launched ballistic missile (GLBM)” means a ground-launched ballistic missile that is a weapon-delivery vehicle.
The term “cruise missile” means an unmanned, self-propelled vehicle that sustains flight through the use of aerodynamic lift over most of its flight path. The term “ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM)” means a ground-launched cruise missile that is a weapon-delivery vehicle.
The term “intermediate-range missile” means a GLBM or a GLCM having a range capability in excess of 1000 kilometers but not in excess of 5500 kilometers.
The term “shorter-range missile” means a GLBM or a GLCM having a range capability equal to or in excess of 500 kilometers but not in excess of 1000 kilometers. …and other definitions.

Article III

This article lists the existing types of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles possessed by the Parties.

United States: Pershing II, BGM-109G, Pershing IA.
Soviet Union: RSD-10, R-12, R-14, OTR-22, OTR-23.

Article IV

Each Party shall eliminate all its intermediate-range missiles and launchers of such missiles…so that no later than three years after entry into force of this Treaty and thereafter no such missiles, launchers, support structures or support equipment are possessed by either Party.

Article V

Each Party shall eliminate all its shorter-range missiles and launchers of such missiles…so that no later than 18 months after entry into force of this Treaty and thereafter no such missiles, launchers or support equipment are possessed by either Party.

Article VI

Upon entry into force of this Treaty and thereafter, neither Party shall: (a) produce or flight-test any intermediate-range missiles or produce any stages of such missiles or any launchers of such missiles; or (b) produce or flight-test any shorter-range missiles or produce any stages of such missiles or any launchers of such missiles.

Article X

For the purpose of ensuring verification of compliance with the provisions of this Treaty, each Party shall have the right to conduct on-site inspections.

Article XI

For the purpose of ensuring verification of compliance with the provisions of this Treaty, each Party shall use national technical means of verification at its disposal in a manner consistent with generally recognized principles of international law.

Article XII

To promote the objectives and implementation of the provisions of this Treaty, the Parties hereby establish the Special Verification Commission.

Article XV

This Treaty shall be of unlimited duration.

Done at Washington on December 8, 1987, in two copies, each in the English and Russian languages, both texts being equally authentic.

the intermediate-range nuclear forces (inf) treaty