How Did Reagan Use Strategic Defense Initiative?

On March 23, 1983, US President Ronald Reagan announced to the nation the formation of a new weapons defense system. The Cold War had brought the threat of nuclear annihilation closer to reality; it was marked by various proxy wars and a dangerous arms race, with both the US and Soviet Union racing to achieve the most advanced nuclear technology. Subsequently, talks were made between the two to reduce their nuclear weapon capabilities, but the threat of complete destruction continued to loom over everyone’s heads. Instead of continuing with the policy of mutual assured destruction (if the attacker were to launch a strike the defender would respond with equal force, resulting in the destruction of both), Reagan preferred strategic defense and deterrence. So, Reagan proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative, famously dubbed Star Wars, a space-based defense system that focused on neutralizing a warhead before it was able to cause massive
However, various problems plagued the project: the technological limits, high costs, and diplomatic pressures from the Soviet Union hindered its objectives and eventually led to its abandonment.
Perhaps the most advanced weapons system designed for its time, the ambitious Strategic Defense Initiative combined modern technology with unimaginable sci-fi-like weaponry. A large portion of its funding went into researching and developing these weapons. The official fact sheet from the White House on the SDI program stated that, “...research will be initially focused on technologies for: sensing and tracking attacking missiles; destroying attacking missiles and warheads; command and control; and survivability and sustainability” (“National Security Decision Directive 119, Strategic Defense Initiative”). Further research to bolster its effectiveness would be on, “global, full-time surveillance, and attack