Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO)

The Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO), announced in 1983, was a U.S. government program aimed at developing advanced missile defense systems to protect against potential nuclear attacks, particularly from Soviet ICBMs. Often called "Star Wars," it focused on technologies like space-based lasers and missile interceptors to detect and destroy incoming missiles before they reached targets. While ambitious and innovative, the SDIO faced technical challenges and significant budget concerns, eventually evolving into other defense programs rather than fully realized systems. Its goal was to enhance national security through technological innovation in missile defense.