missile gap

American  

noun

1. a lag in one country's missile production relative to the production of another country.

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Etymology

Origin of missile gap

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Those weapons, along with anti-ship missiles fielded in Okinawa by the new littoral regiments, could help close a growing missile gap with China, say experts.

From Reuters • Jan. 11, 2023

Born in 1952, I was too young for the "missile gap," which animated John F. Kennedy's 1960 run for president.

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2020

But in the interim the U.S. gathered new intelligence that there was in fact no missile gap.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2018

The concern about a hypersonic missile gap is reflected in the Pentagon’s defense spending request for the coming fiscal year, which called for $256 million for hypersonics work at DARPA.

From Washington Times • May 9, 2018

A new term began to make the rounds in policy circles, the press, and private conversation: the missile gap.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly