Type of MISSILES

Ballistic Missiles:

Ballistic Missiles are just as one would throw a ball or spear, the rocket’s engine gives the missile an initial push, after which its flight is affected only by gravity. Ballistic missiles do not fly. They go up, and they come down. Because they do not burn oxygen from the air, ballistic missiles can fly beyond earth’s atmosphere. A ballistic missile is a tube from approximately thirty to over one hundred feet tall, almost completely filled with either liquid or solid fuel. At the bottom of the tube are the engines and direction controls—either fins (as in older models) or small sideways thrusters. Liquid fuel is typically some distillate rich in carbon and hydrogen. In the engines, this combines with liquid oxygen, ignites, and provides thrust. Solid fuel consists of some powdered metals such as zinc or magnesium, combined with a solid source of oxygen, and something that binds the mixture and regulates the burn. The engines simply direct the resulting thrust. But once solid fuel missiles are lit, the fuel will burn until done. At the top of the missile are its brains—the guidance systems. Above these is the payload.

Ballistic missiles are most often categorized as short-range, medium-range, intermediate-range, and intercontinental ballistic missiles (SRBMs, MRBMs, IRBMs, and ICBMs). SRBMs are effective to 300 miles (480 km), MRBMs from 300 to 600 miles (480 to 965 km), IRBMs from 600 to 3,300 miles (965 to 5,310 km), and ICBMs more than 3,300 miles (5,310 km).

They can carry conventional as well as nuclear warheads. A ballistic missile can be launched from land, from a silo, from mobile platforms on trucks or trains, from submarine or ship, or from an airplane.

Cruise Missiles:

Cruise missiles are pilot less airplanes, either remote controlled or pre-programmed. They fly through the air, and only through the air. The engines of cruise missiles, like those of aircraft, burn oxygen from the air. Like all other kinds of aircraft, cruise missiles are held up by the flow of air over their wings. Their engines work throughout the flight, not just at the beginning. Cruise missiles fly horizontally rather than in arches, reach only about twice the speed of sound, and typically travel from tens to hundreds of miles.

Cruise Missiles can be categorized as Long-range subsonic having range of over 1000 Kms, Medium Range subsonic having a range of 300 kms to 1000 kms, short range subsonic having a range of 70 kms to 300 kms and Supersonic cruise missiles having a range of 100 kms to 500kms but can be greater.

Cruise Missiles can carry conventional and nuclear warheads. Cruise Missiles can be launched from land, air, ship or submarine. Air and submarine launched cruise missiles are lighter and smaller than land and ship launched versions.

Other than this depending upon the functionality missiles can be categorized as

• Air-to-air missile
• Air-to-surface missile
• Anti-ballistic missile
• Anti-satellite weapon
• Anti-ship missile
• Anti-tank guided missile
• Surface-to-air missile
• Wire-guided missile