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'Throw-weight' is a measure of the effective weight of ballistic missile payloads. It is measured in kilograms or metric tons. Throw-weight equals the total weight of a missile's warheads, reentry vehicles, self-contained dispensing mechanisms, penetration aids, and guidance systems (generally all components except for the launch rocket booster and launch fuel).^[1]
Throw-weight is used as a criterion in classifying different types of missiles. It was first defined during the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks of 1979 (SALT II) between the Soviet Union and the United States as a way to set limits for each country's allowed supply of each missile class.^[2] For example, during the SALT talks, the Soviet heavy ICBMs, which had a throw-weight of over 5 metric tons, were disallowed altogether.

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References

References

1. http://www.answers.com/topic/throw-weight
2. http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1982/nov-dec/tritten.html