THEL is a key program. If directed energy weapon systems mature as I hope they can in the next 5 years, and with proper tracking systems to boot, you won't need 'kill vehicles' such as the one that failed last week. A ground-based laser platform could do the job.
Then, the bastards couldn't build nukes fast enough to ever reach the point where they could overwhelm this defense, as we can build lasers faster then they can build nukes.