Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 2332g: Missile systems designed to destroy aircraft

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

This statute prohibits designing, possessing, or using missile systems intended to destroy aircraft. Violations carry mandatory minimum sentences of 25–30 years imprisonment, or life imprisonment if death results.

Read the full statutory text
seek or proceed toward energy radiated or reflected from an aircraft or toward an image locating an aircraft; or otherwise direct or guide the rocket or missile to an aircraft; any device designed or intended to launch or guide a rocket or missile described in subparagraph (A); or any part or combination of parts designed or redesigned for use in assembling or fabricating a rocket, missile, or device described in subparagraph (A) or (B). Paragraph (1)(A) does not apply to any device that is neither designed nor redesigned for use as a weapon. conduct by or under the authority of the United States or any department or agency thereof or of a State or any department or agency thereof; or conduct pursuant to the terms of a contract with the United States or any department or agency thereof or with a State or any department or agency thereof. the offense occurs in or affects interstate or foreign commerce; the offense occurs outside of the United States and is committed by a national of the United States; the offense is committed against a national of the United States while the national is outside the United States; the offense is committed against any property that is owned, leased, or used by the United States or by any department or agency of the United States, whether the property is within or outside the United States; or an offender aids or abets any person over whom jurisdiction exists under this subsection in committing an offense under this section or conspires with any person over whom jurisdiction exists under this subsection to commit an offense under this section. Any person who violates, or attempts or conspires to violate, subsection (a) shall be fined not more than $2,000,000 and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment not less than 25 years or to imprisonment for life. Any person who, in the course of a violation of subsection (a), uses, attempts or conspires to use, or possesses and threatens to use, any item or items described in subsection (a), shall be fined not more than $2,000,000 and imprisoned for not less than 30 years or imprisoned for life. If the death of another results from a person’s violation of subsection (a), the person shall be fined not more than $2,000,000 and punished by imprisonment for life. As used in this section, the term “aircraft” has the definition set forth in section 40102(a)(6) of title 49 , United States Code.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.