Wikipedia

Ballistic missile

For self-navigating guided constant-speed missiles, seeCruise missile.

Aballistic missile(BM) is a type ofmissilethat usesprojectile motionto deliverwarheadson a target. These weapons arepoweredonly during relatively brief periods—most of the flight is unpowered.Short-range ballistic missiles(SRBM) typically stay within the Earth's atmosphere, while most larger missiles travel outside the atmosphere. The type of ballistic missile with the greatest range isintercontinental ballistic missile(ICBM). The largest ICBMs are capable of fullorbital flight.

Minuteman-IIIMIRVlaunch sequence:
  • 1. The missile launches out of its silo by firing its 1st-stage boost motor (A).
  • 2. About 60 seconds after launch, the 1st-stage drops off and the 2nd-stage motor (B) ignites. The missile shroud (E) is ejected.
  • 3. About 120 seconds after launch, the 3rd-stage motor (C) ignites and separates from the 2nd stage.
  • 4. About 180 seconds after launch, 3rd-stage thrust terminates and the post-boost vehicle (D) separates from the rocket.
  • 5. The post-boost vehicle maneuvers itself and prepares for re-entry vehicle (RV) deployment.
  • 6. The RVs, as well as decoys and chaff, are deployed.
  • 7. The RVs (now armed) and chaff re-enter the atmosphere at high speeds.
  • 8. The nuclear warheads detonate.

These missiles are in a distinct category fromcruise missiles,which areaerodynamically guidedin powered flight and thus restricted to the atmosphere.

History

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Further information:History of rocketsandBallistics
ReplicaV-2

One modern pioneer ballistic missile was the A-4,[1]commonly known as theV-2developed byNazi Germanyin the 1930s and 1940s under the direction ofWernher von Braun.The first successful launch of a V-2 was on October 3, 1942, and it began operation on September 6, 1944, againstParis,followed by an attack on London two days later. By the end of World War II in Europe in May 1945, more than 3,000 V-2s had been launched.[2]In addition to its use as a weapon, avertically launched V-2became the first human-made object to reachouter spaceon June 20, 1944.[3]

TheR-7 Semyorkawas the firstintercontinental ballistic missile.[4]

Thelargest ballistic missile attack in historytook place on 1 October 2024 when theIranian Revolutionary Guardlaunched about 200 missiles atIsrael,[5]a distance of about 1,500 kilometers.[6][7][8]The missiles arrived about 15 minutes after launch.[9]It is believed that Iran'sFattah-1andKheybar Shekanmissiles were used, which both have a range of about 1,400 km.[10]

Side view of Minuteman-III ICBM

Flight

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In order to cover large distances, ballistic missiles are usually launched into a highsub-orbital spaceflight;for intercontinental missiles, the highest altitude (apogee) reached during free-flight is about 4,500 kilometers (2,800 mi).[11]A ballistic missile'strajectoryconsists of three parts orphases:the boost phase, the mid-course phase and the terminal phase. Special systems and capabilities are required to facilitate the successful passage from one phase to the other.[12]

The boost phase is thepowered flightportion, beginning with the ignition of the engines and concluding with the end of powered flight. The powered flight portion can last from a few tenths of seconds to several minutes and can consist of multiplerocketstages.[13]Internal computers keep the missile aligned on a preprogrammed trajectory.[12]Onmulti-stage missiles,stage separation (excluding any post-boost vehicles orMIRVbus) occurs primarily during the boost phase.

The mid-course phase is the longest in the missile's trajectory, beginning with the conclusion of powered flight. When the fuel is exhausted, no morethrustis provided and the missile enters free flight. During this phase the missile, now largely consisting of awarheador payload and possibly defensive countermeasures and small propulsion systems for further alignment toward its target, will reach itshighest altitudeand may travel in space for thousands of kilometres (or even indefinitely, in the case of somefractional-orbitalcapable systems) at speeds of up to 7.5 to 10 kilometres per second (4 to 5 nautical miles per second).[14]

The last phase in the missile's trajectory is the terminal or re-entry phase, beginning with there-entry of the missile into the Earth's atmosphere(ifexoatmospheric)[13][14]where atmosphericdragplays a significant part in missile trajectory, and lasts until missileimpact.[13]Re-entry vehicles re-enter the Earth's atmosphere at very high velocities, on the order of 6–8 kilometers per second (22,000–29,000 km/h; 13,000–18,000 mph) at ICBM ranges.[15]During the beginning of this phase, the missile's trajectory is still relatively well defined, though as the missile reaches the heavier layers of atmosphere it is increasingly influenced by gravity and aerodynamic drag, which can affect its landing.[14]

Types

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Trident IISLBM launched byballistic missile submarine

Ballistic missiles can be launched from fixed sites or mobile launchers, including vehicles (e.g.,transporter erector launchers),aircraft,ships,andsubmarines.Ballistic missiles vary widely in range and use, and are often divided into categories based on range. Various schemes are used by different countries to categorize the ranges of ballistic missiles:

Long- and medium-range ballistic missiles are generally designed to delivernuclear weaponsbecause theirpayloadis too limited for conventional explosives to be cost-effective in comparison to conventionalbomber aircraft.

Quasi-ballistic missiles

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A quasi-ballistic missile is a category ofSRBMthat is largely ballistic but can perform maneuvers in flight or make unexpected changes in direction and range.[16]Large guided MLRS rockets with range comparable to an SRBM are sometimes categorized as quasi-ballistic missiles.[17]

List of quasi-ballistic missiles

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India
Israel
Soviet Union/Russia
United States

Hypersonic ballistic missile

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Main article:Hypersonic glide vehicle

Many ballistic missiles reachhypersonic speeds(i.e.Mach5 and above) when they re-enter the atmosphere from space. However, in common military terminology, the term "hypersonic ballistic missile" is generally only given to those that can be maneuvered before hitting their target and don't follow a simpleballistic trajectory.[22][23]

Throw-weight

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Throw-weight is a measure of the effective weight of ballistic missilepayloads.It is measured inkilogramsortonnes.Throw-weight equals the total weight of a missile'swarheads,reentry vehicles,self-contained dispensing mechanisms,penetration aids,and any other components that are part of the delivered payload, and not of the rocket itself (such as the launchrocket boosterand launch fuel).[24]Throw-weight may refer to any type of warhead, but in normal modern usage, it refers almost exclusively tonuclearorthermonuclearpayloads. It was once also a consideration in the design of naval ships and the number and size of their guns.

Throw-weight was used as a criterion in classifying different types of missiles duringStrategic Arms Limitation Talksbetween theSoviet Unionand theUnited States.[25]The term became politically controversial during debates over the arms control accord, as critics of the treaty alleged that Soviet missiles were able to carry larger payloads and so enabled the Soviets to maintain higher throw-weight than an American force with a roughly comparable number of lower-payload missiles.[26]

The missiles with the world's heaviest payloads are the RussianSS-18and ChineseCSS-4and as of 2017,Russia was developing a new heavy-lift, liquid-propellant ICBM called theSarmat.[15]

Depressed trajectory

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Example of Depressed trajectory:Fractional Orbital Bombardment System

Throw-weight is normally calculated using an optimalballistic trajectoryfrom one point on the surface of the Earth to another. A "minimum-energy trajectory" maximizes the total payload (throw-weight) using the availableimpulseof the missile.[27]By reducing the payload weight, different trajectories can be selected, which can either increase the nominal range or decrease the total time in flight.

A depressed trajectory is non-optimal, as a lower and flatter trajectory takes less time between launch and impact but has a lower throw-weight. The primary reasons to choose a depressed trajectory are to evadeanti-ballistic missilesystems by reducing the time available to shoot down the attacking vehicle (especially during the vulnerable burn-phase against space-based ABM systems) or a nuclearfirst-strikescenario.[28]An alternate, non-military purpose for a depressed trajectory is in conjunction with thespaceplaneconcept with use ofairbreathing jet engines,which requires the ballistic missile to remain low enough inside the atmosphere for air-breathing engines to function.

In contrast, a "lofted" trajectory is frequently used for testing purposes, as it reduces the range of the missile (allowing for a controlled and observed impact), as well as signals a lack of hostile intention with the test.[29][27]

Combat use

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The following ballistic missiles have been used in combat:

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^Zaloga, Steven (2003).V-2 Ballistic Missile 1942–52.Reading:Osprey Publishing.p.3.ISBN978-1-84176-541-9.
  2. ^Clayton K. S. Chun (2006).Thunder Over the Horizon: From V-2 Rockets to Ballistic Missiles.Greenwood Publishing Group.p. 54.
  3. ^Wade, Mark."Peenemuende".Astronautix.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2005-04-25.Retrieved2019-06-07.
  4. ^"Launching The Space Age".airandspace.si.edu.Retrieved2023-03-01.
  5. ^Schneider, Tal (6 October 2024)."How effective was Iran's attack? The Israeli public doesn't have the full picture".The Times of Israel.Retrieved27 October2024.
  6. ^"What to Know About Iran's Ballistic Missile Attacks and Israel's Efforts to Defend Itself | AJC".www.ajc.org.2024-10-25.Retrieved2024-10-27.
  7. ^"MSN".www.msn.com.Retrieved2024-10-27.
  8. ^"Distance from Jerusalem, Israel to Tehran, Iran".www.geodatos.net.Retrieved2024-10-27.
  9. ^"What we know about Iran's latest missile attack on Israel".www.bbc.com.Retrieved2024-10-27.
  10. ^Doyle, Gerry (2 October 2024)."Iranian missile strike on Israel shows capability for greater scale, complexity".Reuters.Retrieved27 October2024.
  11. ^"North Korea launches 'highest ever' ballistic missile".BBC.28 November 2017.
  12. ^abChun, Clayton K. S. (2006).Thunder over the horizon: from V-2 rockets to ballistic missiles.War, technology, and history. Westport, CN.: Praeger Security International. p. 2.ISBN978-0-275-98577-6.
  13. ^abcMcFadden, Christopher (4 December 2017)."What is an intercontinental ballistic missile and how does it work?".
  14. ^abcChun, Clayton K. S. (2006).Thunder over the horizon: from V-2 rockets to ballistic missiles.War, technology, and history. Westport, Conn.: Praeger Security International. p. 4.ISBN978-0-275-98577-6.
  15. ^ab"Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat".Defense Intelligence Ballistic Missile Analysis Committee. June 2017.
  16. ^"Why Pralay quasi-ballistic missile, tested by DRDO today, will be a 'game-changer' for Army".ThePrint.2021-12-22.Retrieved2022-06-21.
  17. ^"MLRS For Army and Indigenous Capability".SPS Land Forces.
  18. ^"Missile marvels: India makes a mark with its growing capabilities".Financialexpress.27 December 2022.Retrieved2022-12-28.
  19. ^"Defence Ministry clears proposal to buy 'Pralay' ballistic missiles for Indian Army".The Economic Times.2023-09-17.ISSN0013-0389.Retrieved2024-02-15.
  20. ^"MGM-140 ATACMS Short-Range Ballistic Missile".www.militarytoday.com.Retrieved2023-10-26.
  21. ^"Precision Strike Missile (PrSM)".Lockheed Martin.Retrieved2023-10-26.
  22. ^"'National pride is at stake.' Russia, China, United States race to build hypersonic weapons ".www.science.org.Retrieved2022-11-21.
  23. ^Gale, Alastair."What Are Hypersonic Missiles and Who's Developing Them?".WSJ.com.Retrieved2022-11-20.
  24. ^"What is throw weight?".The New York Times.15 July 1991. p. 10, Sec. A.Retrieved13 April2024.
  25. ^James John Tritten,Throw-Weight and Arms ControlArchived2007-11-23 at theWayback Machine,Air University Review,Nov-Dec 1982.
  26. ^What Is Throw-Weight?Archived2022-11-26 at theWayback Machine,New York Times, July 15, 1991.
  27. ^abDruckmann, Erez; Ben-Asher, Joseph (28 Aug 2012)."Optimal In-flight Trajectory Modifications for Ballistic Missiles and Rockets".Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics.35(2): 462.doi:10.2514/1.54538– via Aerospace Research Central.
  28. ^Science & Global Security, 1992, Vol. 3, pp.101–159 Depressed Trajectory SLBMs: A Technical Evaluation and Arms Control Possibilities[1]Archived2013-03-18 at theWayback Machine
  29. ^"Why North Korea's missile tests are going higher and further".Reuters.2022-12-16.Retrieved2024-04-13.
  30. ^"The National Interest: Blog".
  31. ^"Two missiles target Ethiopian airports as Tigray conflict widens".14 November 2020.
  32. ^"Little and large missile surprises in Sanaa and Tehran".
  33. ^"Video Points to Azerbaijan's First Use of Israeli-Made Ballistic Missile Against Armenia".2 October 2020.
  34. ^"In a first, Israel shoots down a ballistic missile in space".5 November 2023.
  35. ^"A peek inside Houthi Rebel's recent missile strikes in Saudi Arabia".FDD's Long War Journal.28 March 2018.
  36. ^"Interview: Inside the Houthi arsenal that can reach Israel".Amwaj.media.Retrieved2 November2023.

References

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  • Needham, Joseph (1986).Science and Civilization in China: Volume 5, Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Part 7, Military Technology; the Gunpowder Epic.Taipei: Caves Books.

Further reading

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  • Bath, David W.Assured Destruction: Building the Ballistic Missile Culture of the U.S. Air Force(Naval Institute Press, 2020)online book review
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