New Delhi, March 19 -- US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard warned the Senate on Wednesday (March 18) that several nations are developing missile capabilities that could directly threaten the United States.

"Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and Pakistan have been researching and developing an array of novel, advanced, or traditional missile delivery systems with nuclear and conventional payloads, that put our Homeland within range," Gabbard said.

The intelligence community projects that the collective missile threat to the US could expand from the current 3,000+ missiles to more than 16,000 by 2035.

Gabbard highlighted concerns over advanced delivery systems designed to bypass US missile defenses.

"The IC assesses that C...