Ballistic missile

Ballistic Missile

A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a ballistic trajectory with the objective of delivering one or more warheads to a predetermined target. The missile is only guided during relatively brief periods of flight, and most of its trajectory is unpowered, being governed by gravity and air resistance if in the atmosphere.

History

The use of rockets as a weapon dates back to ancient times. The Chinese were the first to use them as such, with the fire arrow. The medieval European Hussite Wars and Battle of Crécy featured the use of rocket artillery, as did the Mongols, and the Ottoman Empire. The Mysorean rockets were the first successful iron-cased rockets, developed in the late 18th century in the Kingdom of Mysore (part of present-day India) by Tipu Sultan.

Types of Ballistic Missiles

Ballistic missiles can be categorized by their range, the maximum distance measured along the surface of the earth's ellipsoid from the point of launch of a ballistic missile to the point of impact of the last warhead. The following are the types of ballistic missiles:

• Short-range ballistic missile (SRBM)
• Medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM)
• Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM)
• Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)
• Submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM)

Components of a Ballistic Missile

A ballistic missile consists of one or more rocket stages, a warhead, and a guidance system. The rocket stages provide the energy to launch the warhead on a trajectory towards its target. The guidance system ensures that the missile stays on this trajectory. The warhead is the destructive element of the missile.

See Also

• Cruise missile
• Missile defense
• Anti-ballistic missile
• Nuclear warfare