Introduction:
What is a Missile: Basically any object thrown at a target with the aim of hitting it is a missile. Thus, a stone thrown at a bird is a missile. The bird, by using its power of reasoning may evade the missile (the stone) by moving either to the left, right , top or bottom with respect to the flight path (trajectory) of the missile. Thus, the missile in the case has been ineffective in its objective of hitting the bird (the target). Now if the stone too is imparted with some intelligence and quick response to move with respect to the bird, to overcome aiming errors and the bird evasive actions and hit it accurately, the stone now becomes a guided missile.
The incorporation of energy source in a missile to provide the require force for its movement (propulsion), intelligence to go to the correct direction(guidance) and effective maneuvering (control) are mainly technologies of guided missiles. They help in making a missile specific to a target, that is, they determine the size, range and state of motion of a missile.
Types of guided missiles: Presently, there are many types of guided missiles. They can be classified on the basis of their features such as type of target; range; mode of launching; system adopted for control, propulsion or guidance; aerodynamics; etc. They are also termed in a broad sense as strategic or tactical, defensive or offensive.
On the basis of target they could be called
1. Anti- tank / anti-Armour,
2. Anti-personnel,
3 Anti-aircraft/helicopter,
4. Anti-ship/anti-submarine,
5. Anti-satellite, or
6. Anti-missile.
Another classification of missile which is very popular is based on the method of launching; such as:
1. Surface- to - surface-missiles (SSM),
2. Surface - to- air missiles (SAM),
3. Air- to- air missiles (AAM), and
4. Air -to-surface missiles (ASM).
On the basis of range, missiles can be classified as
1. Short-range-missiles;
2. Medium-range ballistic missiles(MRBM);
3. Intermediate-range ballistic missiles(IRBM);
4. Intercontinental or long range ballistic missiles (ICBM).
This classification is mainly used in the context of SSMs. Missiles which travel a distance of about 50 to 100 km are designed as short-range missiles. Those with a range of 100 to 1500 km are called medium-range missiles and missiles having a range up to 5000 km are said to be intermediate range missiles. ICBMs belong to the class of long range missiles which can travel a distance of 12000 km.
On the basis of launch platform, missiles can be termed as
1. Shoulder fired/ tripod launched,
2. Land / mobile (wheel vehicle or tracked vehicle),
3. Aircraft / helicopter-borne,
4. Ship/ submarine-launched,
5. Silo-based, or
6. Space-based (Star war concept).
Based on guidance, missiles are classified as
1. Command guidance,
2. Homing guidance,
3. Beam rider guidance, and
4. Inertial navigation guidance.
Depending on the aerodynamic control adopted , a missile is called
1. Wing controlled,
2. Tail controlled, or
3. Canard controlled.
One more classification is based on the type of trajectory and a missile is called a ballistic missile or a cruise missile.
By definition a ballistic missile is the one which covers a major part of its range outside the atmosphere, where the only external force acting on the missile is the gravitational force of the earth, while the cruise missile is the one which travels its entire range in the atmosphere at a nearly constant height and speed . However, a missile could have a combination of the two also where a missile could cover part of the flight in ballistic mode and latter a terminal portion in cruise mode.
Another classification is based on propulsion system,we have
1. Solid propulsion
2. Liquid propulsion, and
3. Hybrid propulsion.
In air breathing propulsion, we have:
1. Gas turbine engine jet or propeller
2. Ramjets or ram-rockets
Other type of propulsion has been developed like ionic, nuclear, plasma , etc.
What is a Missile: Basically any object thrown at a target with the aim of hitting it is a missile. Thus, a stone thrown at a bird is a missile. The bird, by using its power of reasoning may evade the missile (the stone) by moving either to the left, right , top or bottom with respect to the flight path (trajectory) of the missile. Thus, the missile in the case has been ineffective in its objective of hitting the bird (the target). Now if the stone too is imparted with some intelligence and quick response to move with respect to the bird, to overcome aiming errors and the bird evasive actions and hit it accurately, the stone now becomes a guided missile.
The incorporation of energy source in a missile to provide the require force for its movement (propulsion), intelligence to go to the correct direction(guidance) and effective maneuvering (control) are mainly technologies of guided missiles. They help in making a missile specific to a target, that is, they determine the size, range and state of motion of a missile.
Types of guided missiles: Presently, there are many types of guided missiles. They can be classified on the basis of their features such as type of target; range; mode of launching; system adopted for control, propulsion or guidance; aerodynamics; etc. They are also termed in a broad sense as strategic or tactical, defensive or offensive.
On the basis of target they could be called
1. Anti- tank / anti-Armour,
2. Anti-personnel,
3 Anti-aircraft/helicopter,
4. Anti-ship/anti-submarine,
5. Anti-satellite, or
6. Anti-missile.
Another classification of missile which is very popular is based on the method of launching; such as:
1. Surface- to - surface-missiles (SSM),
2. Surface - to- air missiles (SAM),
3. Air- to- air missiles (AAM), and
4. Air -to-surface missiles (ASM).
On the basis of range, missiles can be classified as
1. Short-range-missiles;
2. Medium-range ballistic missiles(MRBM);
3. Intermediate-range ballistic missiles(IRBM);
4. Intercontinental or long range ballistic missiles (ICBM).
This classification is mainly used in the context of SSMs. Missiles which travel a distance of about 50 to 100 km are designed as short-range missiles. Those with a range of 100 to 1500 km are called medium-range missiles and missiles having a range up to 5000 km are said to be intermediate range missiles. ICBMs belong to the class of long range missiles which can travel a distance of 12000 km.
On the basis of launch platform, missiles can be termed as
1. Shoulder fired/ tripod launched,
2. Land / mobile (wheel vehicle or tracked vehicle),
3. Aircraft / helicopter-borne,
4. Ship/ submarine-launched,
5. Silo-based, or
6. Space-based (Star war concept).
Based on guidance, missiles are classified as
1. Command guidance,
2. Homing guidance,
3. Beam rider guidance, and
4. Inertial navigation guidance.
Depending on the aerodynamic control adopted , a missile is called
1. Wing controlled,
2. Tail controlled, or
3. Canard controlled.
One more classification is based on the type of trajectory and a missile is called a ballistic missile or a cruise missile.
By definition a ballistic missile is the one which covers a major part of its range outside the atmosphere, where the only external force acting on the missile is the gravitational force of the earth, while the cruise missile is the one which travels its entire range in the atmosphere at a nearly constant height and speed . However, a missile could have a combination of the two also where a missile could cover part of the flight in ballistic mode and latter a terminal portion in cruise mode.
Another classification is based on propulsion system,we have
1. Solid propulsion
2. Liquid propulsion, and
3. Hybrid propulsion.
In air breathing propulsion, we have:
1. Gas turbine engine jet or propeller
2. Ramjets or ram-rockets
Other type of propulsion has been developed like ionic, nuclear, plasma , etc.
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