The article analyzes the missile proliferation dynamics, its main drivers, trends and actors. The authors note the complication of the global landscape in this area, identify key areas of technological development and specify several types of missile proliferators, which determine the importance of missile proliferation in the context of international security. Existing and prospective mechanisms of arms control, non-proliferation and multilateral risk reduction measures are considered. The authors specify that the existing tools were formed primarily to reduce the risks associated with delivery vehicles for weapons of mass destruction, while today the potential use of conventional missiles is of the greatest importance. The article proposes to concentrate efforts on the «soft arms control» methods in order to create a foundation for a gradual increase in manageability in this area in the absence of real prospects for verifiable and intrusive multilateral measures.