Talk about technology: Missiles Part 2

3) Cruise Missile

A guided missile carrying a large amount of explosive material (warhead) whose flight path is below the atmosphere, and always maintains a constant speed (cruise speed) along the way, is called a cruise missile. It would not be wrong to call such a missile an unmanned aircraft. Because, with the help of its own wings, turbofan engine, radar and other sensors, cruise missiles are able to fly very low (10-110 meters high) avoiding collision with anything. As a result, it is not easily detected by the radar.

They can hit longer distances with less fuel. Let's give a fact to show how perfect it is. If the US Tomahawk land attack cruise missile misses a target 2,400 km away, it will hit within 10 meters of the target. This will not be a problem, as the target will be destroyed with a large amount of warheads suitable for a blast radius of 25 meters. Cruise missiles such as the Tomahawk have speeds typically below Mach 1, i.e. subsonic. However, some countries possess supersonic (Mach 1+) and hypersonic (Mach 5+) land attack and anti-ship cruise missiles, which military analysts have termed as 'game changers' in recent years. An example is India-Russia Brahmos supersonic cruise missile.

There is a different type of cruise missile for land attack. However, anti-ship cruise missiles can attack land targets in addition to warships.

4) Ballistic Missile

Most of the readers misunderstand when it comes to ballistic missiles, even if they have a basic understanding of missiles. Let's explain it in one word. Long-range missiles that follow a ballistic trajectory after firing are called ballistic missiles. To launch such missiles from land, road mobile launcher vehicles, railroad vehicles (missile-carrying trains) or underground 'missile silos' are used. Nuclear ballistic missile submarines are used to launch from the sea. As a result, countries that have such submarines are able to strike back even if the entire country is destroyed in a nuclear attack.

Ballistic missiles can be divided into several categories based on range. For example, Tactical Ballistic Missiles (TBMs) have a range of 300 km, and Short-Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBMs) have a range of 1,000 km. It happens in between. We often see them used alongside cruise missiles in conventional warfare. On the other hand, 1,000-3,000 km. The ranges are Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs) and 3,000-5,500 km. The ranges are called Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs). Unless it is a very important strategic target, these missiles are not used. Both conventional and nuclear explosives can be used. Besides, chemical and biological warheads (bacterial weapons) can be delivered with them.

Next let's move on to the godfather of all missiles, the InterContinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM). It goes without saying that human civilization will be completely destroyed if they are used. Russia currently has 18,000 km of underground silos or land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles. The RS-28 Sarmat is the longest-range missile, which entered service in 2022. In addition, US LGM-118 Peacekeeper (14,000 km.m.), submarine-launched US-British Trident II (11,300 km). Apart from this, China's DF-41, DF-5A (12,000-15,000 km), France's M51.2 (8,000-10,000 km), India's Agni-V (5,500 -8,000 km) is significant. Although Israel and North Korea have ICBMs, there is no clear information about them.

Just as cruise missiles after firing go very low to evade radars and go overseas-hills-mountains and then head towards the target, the religion of ballistic missiles is exactly the opposite. It rises upward in an elliptical path after firing. Short and medium range tactical ballistic missiles have a trajectory within the atmosphere. ICBMs, on the other hand, escape into the atmosphere after firing. For this reason, multiple stage booster rockets are used, so its operation is similar to that of space rockets used in space research. One or more nuclear warheads are then separated and driven towards the target. Re-entry into the atmosphere is called 're-entry', and the means by which the warhead is secured is called the 're-entry vehicle'. Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) technology is owned by the US, UK, France, China, and Russia, and is being developed by India, Pakistan, and North Korea. At this time, due to the missile's own speed and gravitational acceleration, the velocity of the warhead is very high (6-8 km per second!), so it is quite difficult to counter it with conventional air defense missiles.