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The Simple Difference Between Ballistic Missiles and Cruise Missiles

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In 2017, North Korea unexpectedly staged a test launch of what was then a new ballistic missile , the Pukguksong-2. The launch took place when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was on a state visit to the United States . There have been many more test launches of ballistic missiles by North Korea since. Between May and October 2019, North Korea launched as many as 12 ballistic missiles or other projectiles. But they have all been just test launches.

Things got real, though, on Jan. 7, 2020, when Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi military bases housing U.S. troops. This was not a test launch. It was Iran's retaliation for the U.S. drone strike that killed Iran Gen. Qassem Soleimani on Jan. 3, 2020. There were no casualties and Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif defended the missile strike on the U.S. bases in Iraq, saying it was an act of "self-defense."

But for the non-military minded among us, these ballistic missile launches — both the constant test launches in North Korea and the intentional strikes on U.S. bases in Iraq — may raise a good question: What exactly is a ballistic missile, anyway? Is there something about the ballistic part that makes a missile even more dangerous? After all, when someone freaks out we say they've "gone ballistic."

According to the Federation of American Scientists , a ballistic missile is one that has a ballistic trajectory over most of its flight path. What that means is that once the missile burns up the fuel that propels it, the missile keeps moving, the same way that a bullet does after it's been fired out of a gun. Once the fuel is gone, the missile's direction can't be altered. It follows a path determined by the speed of its launch and the force of gravity trying to pull it back toward the Earth's surface. Eventually, gravity guides the missile — and its payload, which might be an explosive, a chemical or biological weapon, or a nuclear device — down toward its target.

Ballistic missiles are different than cruise missiles. Cruise missiles are self-propelled for the majority of their time in the air, flying in a relatively straight line and at lower altitudes thanks to a rocket propellant. Think of a ballistic missile's flight path as a large arc up and back down again, while that of a cruise missile — fired from a warship, for instance — is closer to a straight line.

Ballistic missiles first came into use during World War II, when the Germans used a ballistic missile called the V-2 to attack London. British air defenses designed to stop aircraft couldn't stop the V-2s, because the rockets traveled too high into the upper atmosphere and moved too fast.

After the war, the U.S., with the help of captured German technology and scientists, built its own arsenal of even more powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of unleashing nuclear destruction upon targets on the other side of the world. The Soviet Union and China built ICBMs as well, setting up a world where a nuclear war was deterred by the prospect of mutual assured destruction.

The North Korean regime successfully tested intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) in July and November 2017. Its Hwasong-15 ICBM reached an altitude of 2,780 miles (4,475 kilometers) and flew about 590 miles (1,000 kilometers) before landing in the sea off the coast of Japan. Analysts estimate the Hwasong-15 has a potential range of 8,100 miles (13,000 kilometers). If it's fired on a flatter trajectory, it could reach potentially reach anywhere on the U.S. mainland.

Which countries have intercontinental ballistic missiles?

What is meant by ballistic trajectory, what is difference between a ballistic and a cruise missile, how high do ballistic missiles fly, are ballistic missiles nuclear.

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We frequently notice news related to ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and various missile systems of India. Memorizing names and salient features of various Indian missiles is hard without having a broader understanding of the concept of ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, and major missile defence systems. It is better to give these concepts a holistic structure rather than learning them in bits and pieces.

Ballistic Missile vs. Cruise Missile

The Hindu | GS3 > indigenization of technology

The terms ‘ballistic missile’ and ‘cruise missile’ appear in news articles wherever there is a missile test. It is essential for us to understand these terms to understand various Indian missile defence systems.

Ballistic Missile

A ballistic missile follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver one or more warheads on a predetermined target.
A ballistic trajectory is the path of an object that is launched but has no active propulsion during its actual flight (these weapons are guided only during relatively brief periods of flight).
Consequently, the trajectory is fully determined by a given initial velocity, effects of gravity, air resistance, and motion of the earth (Coriolis Force).

Image Credits: Wikipedia

Shorter range ballistic missiles stay within the Earth’s atmosphere.
Longer-ranged intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), are launched on a sub-orbital flight trajectory and spend most of their flight out of the atmosphere.

Types of ballistic missiles based on the range

Short-range (tactical) ballistic missile (SRBM): Range between 300 km and 1,000 km.
Medium-range (theatre) ballistic missile (MRBM): 1,000 km to 3,500 km.
Intermediate-range (Long-Range) ballistic missile (IRBM or LRBM): 3,500 km and 5,500 km.
Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM): 5,500 km +

Cruise missile

A cruise missile is a guided missile (target has to be pre-set) used against terrestrial targets.
It remains in the atmosphere throughout its flight.
It flies the major portion of its flight path at approximately constant speed.
Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high precision.
Modern cruise missiles are capable of travelling at supersonic or high subsonic speeds, are self-navigating, and are able to fly on a non-ballistic, extremely low-altitude trajectory.

Types of cruise missiles based on speed

Hypersonic (Mach 5): these missiles would travel at least five times the speed of sound (Mach 5). E.g. BrahMos-II.
Supersonic (Mach 2-3): these missiles travel faster than the speed of sound. E.g. BrahMos.
Subsonic (Mach 0.8): these missiles travel slower than the speed of sound. E.g. Nirbhay.

Differences between Ballistic Missile and Cruise Missile

Integrated guided missile development programme (igmdp).

PIB | Source | The Hindu | 19-06-2019 | GS3 > indigenization of technology

IGMDP was conceived by Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam to enable India attain self-sufficiency in missile technology.
IGMDP was conceived in response to the Missile Technology Control Regime that decided to restrict access to any technology that would help India in its missile development program.
To counter the MTCR, the IGMDP team formed a consortium of DRDO laboratories, industries and academic institutions to build these sub-systems, components and materials.
IGMDP was started in 1983 and completed in March 2012.
Keeping in mind the requirements of various types of missiles by the defence forces, the development of five missile systems was taken up.
Prithvi: Short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile (Prithivi means Earth Surface to Surface)
Agni: Intermediate-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile
Trishul: Short-range low-level surface-to-air missile
Akash: Medium-range surface-to-air missile (Akash means Sky Surface to Air)
Nag: Third generation anti-tank missile (Nag means Snake Nag slithers like a Snake to hit a tank!)
After its success, the Agni missile program was separated from the IGMDP upon realizing its strategic importance.

India’s Missile Systems

PIB | Source | The Hindu | GS3 > indigenization of technology

SLBM: Sub-marine launched ballistic missile

Prithvi Missiles

All the Prithvi variants are surface-to-surface SRBMs.

Agni Missiles

MIRV: Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicle

Anti-satellite weapons (ASAT)

In March 2019, India successfully tested its ASAT missile.
The ASAT missile destroyed a live satellite in Low Earth orbit (283-kilometre).
As per DRDO, the missile is capable of shooting down targets moving at a speed of 10 km per second at an altitude as high as 1200 km.

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What is the difference between Ballistic Missile and Cruise Missile?

There are two major types of missiles- ballistic and cruise. the article below enlists the difference between the two categories and details it. take a look at the difference between cruise missile and ballistic missile below. .

Ballistic Missiles vs Cruise Missiles: About

Ballistic Missile:

Any missile is called Ballistic when the trajectory it follows is ballistic. It is used to deliver one or more warheads on a predetermined target.

A ballistic trajectory is the path of any object that is launched but with no active propulsion during its actual flight. Thus in such missiles the trajectory has to be fully determined by a given initial velocity, effects of gravity, air resistance and earth's motion.

Cruise Missile:

It is a guided missile where the target is pre-set. It is basically used against terrestrial targets.

Such missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high precision.

Difference between Ballistic Missile and Cruise Missile:

Cruise Missiles type:

Hypersonic (Mach 5): These travel at least five times the speed of sound (Mach 5).

Supersonic (Mach 2-3): These missiles travel faster than the speed of sound.

Subsonic (Mach 0.8): These missiles travel slower than the speed of sound.

Ballistic Missile Type:

Short-range (tactical) ballistic missile (SRBM): 300 km to 1,000 km range

Medium-range (theatre) ballistic missile (MRBM): 1,000 km to 3,500 km range

Intermediate-range (Long-Range) ballistic missile (IRBM or LRBM): 3,500 km to 5,500 km range

Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM): Above 5,500 km range

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Which countries have intercontinental ballistic missiles? + Russia, the United States, China, France, India, North Korea and the United Kingdom
How high do ballistic missiles fly? + It can fly almost 4500 kilometres before it reaches back to Earth.
Are ballistic missiles nuclear? + Almost all longer-range ballistic missiles and various types of cruise missiles carry nuclear warheads.
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Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

April 27, 2017

Fact Sheet: Ballistic vs. Cruise Missiles

There are four general classifications of ballistic missiles based on their range, or the maximum distance the missile can travel:

Short-range: less than 1,000 kilometers (approximately 620 miles), also known as “tactical” ballistic missiles.
Medium-range: between 1,000 and 3,000 kilometers (approximately 620-1,860 miles), also known as “theater” ballistic missiles.
Intermediate-range: between 3,000 and 5,500 kilometers (approximately 1,860-3,410 miles)
Long-range: more than 5,500 kilometers (approximately 3,410 miles), also known as intercontinental or strategic ballistic missiles. Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) can fly much further than the minimum range; for example, Russia could hit Chicago with an ICBM launched from the Krasnoyarsk ICBM base, which is located 9,156 kilometers (5,689 miles) away.

Ballistic missiles have three stages of flight:

Boost Phase begins at launch and lasts until the rocket engine(s) stops firing and the missile begins unpowered flight. Depending on the missile, boost phase can last three to five minutes. Most of this phase takes place in the atmosphere.

Midcourse Phase begins after the rocket(s) stops firing. The missile continues to ascend toward the highest point in its trajectory, and then begins to descend toward Earth. This is the longest phase of a missile’s flight; for ICBMs, it can last around 20 minutes. During midcourse phase, ICBMs can travel around 24,000 kilometers per hour (15,000 miles per hour).

Terminal Phase begins when the detached warhead(s) reenter the Earth’s atmosphere and ends upon impact or detonation. During this phase, which can last for less than a minute, strategic warheads can be traveling at speeds greater than 3,200 kilometers per hour (1,988 miles per hour).

Cruise missiles remain within the atmosphere for the duration of their flight and can fly as low as a few meters off the ground. Flying low to the surface of the earth expends more fuel but makes a cruise missile very difficult to detect.

Cruise missiles are self-guided and use multiple methods to accurately deliver their payload, including terrain mapping, global positioning systems (GPS) and inertial guidance, which uses motion sensors and gyroscopes to keep the missile on a pre-programmed flight path. As advanced cruise missiles approach their target, remote operators can use a camera in the nose of the missile to see what the missile sees. This gives them the option to manually guide the missile to its target or to abort the strike.

To learn about missile defense, check out our fact sheet .

Sources: Department of Defense, Missile Defense Agency, Federation of American Scientists .

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Home » Science & Technology » Defence Technology » Cruise missiles vs Ballistic missiles

Cruise missiles vs Ballistic missiles

A cruise missile either locates its target or has a preset target. It navigates using a guidance system — such as inertial or beyond visual range satellite GPS guidance — and comprises a payload and aircraft propulsion system.Cruise missiles can be launched from land, sea or air for land attacks and anti-shipping purposes, and can travel at subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic speeds.Since they stay relatively close to the surface of the earth, they cannot be detected easily by anti-missile systems, and are designed to carry large payloads with high precision.

Ballistic missiles , meanwhile, are launched directly into the upper layers of the earth’s atmosphere.They travel outside the atmosphere, where the warhead detaches from the missile and falls towards a predetermined target.They are rocket-propelled self-guided weapons systems which can carry conventional or nuclear munitions. They can be launched from aircraft, ships and submarines, and land.

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Cruise Missiles vs Ballistic Missiles

General Studies- Paper III , UPSC Examination
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A Cruise Missile is a guided missile that flies with constant speed to deliver a warhead at specified target over long distance with high accuracy. A Ballistic Missile is lift off directly into the high layers of the earth’s atmosphere.

Cruise Missiles

Cruise missiles are unmanned vehicles that are propelled by jet engines, much like an airplane . They can be launched from ground, air, or sea platforms. Cruise missiles remain within the atmosphere for the duration of their flight and can fly as low as a few meters off the ground. Flying low to the surface of the earth expends more fuel but makes a cruise missile very difficult to detect. Cruise missiles are self-guided and use multiple methods to accurately deliver their payload, including terrain mapping, global positioning systems (GPS) and inertial guidance, which uses motion sensors and gyroscopes to keep the missile on a pre-programmed flight path. As advanced cruise missiles approach their target, remote operators can use a camera in the nose of the missile to see what the missile sees. This gives them the option to manually guide the missile to its target or to abort the strike.

A cruise missile is a guided missile (target has to be pre-set) used against terrestrial targets.
It remains in the atmosphere throughout its flight.
It flies the major portion of its flight path at approximately constant speed.
Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high precision.
Modern cruise missiles are capable of travelling at supersonic or high subsonic speeds, are self-navigating, and are able to fly on a non-ballistic, extremely low-altitude trajectory.

Types of cruise missiles based on speed

Hypersonic (Mach 5): These missiles would travel at least five times the speed of sound (Mach 5). E.g. BrahMos-II.
Supersonic (Mach 2-3): These missiles travel faster than the speed of sound. E.g. BrahMos.
Subsonic (Mach 0.8): These missiles travel slower than the speed of sound. E.g. Nirbhay.

Ballistic Missile

Ballistic missiles are powered initially by a rocket or series of rockets in stages, but then follow an unpowered trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target . Ballistic missiles can carry either nuclear or conventional warheads. There are four general classifications of ballistic missiles based on their range, or the maximum distance the missile can travel:

A ballistic missile follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver one or more warheads on a predetermined target.
A ballistic trajectory is the path of an object that is lift of but has no active propulsion during its actual flight (these weapons are guided only during relatively brief periods of flight).
Consequently, the trajectory is fully determined by a given initial velocity, effects of gravity, air resistance, and motion of the earth ( Coriolis Force ).
Shorter range ballistic missiles stay within the Earth’s atmosphere.
Long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), are lift off on a sub-orbital flight trajectory and spend most of their flight out of the atmosphere.

Types of ballistic missiles based on the range

Short-range (tactical) ballistic missile (SRBM): Range between 300 km and 1,000 km.
Medium-range (theatre) ballistic missile (MRBM): 1,000 km to 3,500 km.
Intermediate-range (Long-Range) ballistic missile (IRBM or LRBM): 3,500 km and 5,500 km.
Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM): 5,500 km +

How Cruise Missiles different from Ballistic Missiles?

Cruise missiles are unmanned vehicles that are propelled by jet engines, much like an airplane. They can be lift off from ground, air, sea or submarine platforms . Cruise missiles remain within the atmosphere for the duration of their flight and can fly as low as a few meters off the ground. Flying low to the surface of the earth expends more fuel but makes a cruise missile very difficult to detect . Cruise missiles are self-guided and use multiple methods to accurately deliver their payload, including terrain mapping, global positioning systems (GPS) and inertial guidance.

Also Read: Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet Technology

Read more: missiles, indian missiles, missiles of india, ballistic meaning, ballistic missile, ballistic, cruise missiles of india

Ballistic Missiles , Cruise Missiles

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Missiles of India - Features, Significance, Types of Missiles in India

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GS-III: Science & Technology

What is a Missile?

Features of india’s missile systems, successful missile programs of india, different types of missiles in india, significance of defence capabilities, challenges in defence indigenisation.

Prelims: Current events of National and international importance.

Mains: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenisation of technology and development of new technology

Missiles of India include both ballistic and cruise missile systems with strategic and tactical importance. These missiles have been developed through various missile programs since independence, with the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) being the most important and successful. The development of these missile systems signifies India’s aim to maintain the balance of power and strategic stability in the Asia-Pacific region and attain great power status.

Prithvi, Akash, Agni, Brahmos, Sagarika , etc. are the missiles that have been developed to counter the geopolitical challenges and potential threats to India. They aim to strengthen both offensive and defensive capacities during any conflict scenario.

A missile is a guided airborne ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight usually by a jet engine or rocket motor. Missiles have five system components:

Guidance system
Targeting system
Flight system

Indigenous technology, quick reaction capability, high accuracy, and lethality are the hallmarks of India's missile systems:

Missiles like Agni-V and BrahMos have consistently hit targets with high bulls-eye precision.
Agni and Prithvimissiles in special transport-erector-launcher vehicles can fire in under 15 minutes.
BrahMos , with its supersonic speed, is one of the deadliest cruise missiles globally.

India's missile programs started soon after the establishment of DRDO , and IGMDP was the first significant initiative of India to develop missiles for its defensive and offensive needs.

India's current missile capabilities serve to strengthen conventional military readiness, provide credible nuclear deterrence and secure national interests in line with geopolitical realities.

Types of Missiles Based on Speed

Missiles are classified based on their speed with respect to that of sound, expressed as Mach.

Examples: U.S. Harpoon anti-ship missile, Indian Prithvi short-range ballistic missile
Examples: Russian Iskander tactical ballistic missile, Indian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
Examples: China's DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle, Russia’s Avangard , and Shaurya/Sagarika missiles of India (Max speed - 7.5 Mach), etc.

Types of Missiles in India Based on Trajectory

Examples of HGVs: China DF-17 missile mounts hypersonic glide vehicle, Russia Avangard boost-glide system
India is in the “ Technology demonstration” stage of the HGVs.
Examples: U.S. BGM-109 Tomahawk long-range subsonic cruise missile, Indian Nirbhay subsonic cruise missile.
BrahMos: Joint Indo-Russian BrahMos is the fastest supersonic cruise missile reaching close to Mach 3 speed.
3M22 Zircon: Russia's 3M22 Zircon can fly over Mach 8 as a hypersonic cruise missile.
BrahMos II: Said to be based on Zircon, BrahMos Aerospace is working on the BrahMos-II variant to attain hypersonic cruise speeds above Mach 8.

Instead of ICBMs which follow a probable trajectory, FOBS can avoid early warning systems by approaching from the south polar region without the revelation of targets.
Example : Russia developed this technology in the 1960s. Recently, China has tested this system too.

Types of Missiles Based on the Launch Mode

Based on strategic importance.

Strategic missiles encompass missiles that give a strategic edge over an opponent or provide credible deterrence to a country. In India and other powerful countries, these missiles are part of the nuclear triad.

It is a part of India’s Nuclear Triad .
Agni-V is India's first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile(ICBM), with a range of around 5000-8000 km. It brings the entire Asia-Pacific region within its reach.
Mission Divyastra successfully tested the Agni-V missile using MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) technology, capable of striking multiple targets hundreds of kilometres apart with a single missile.
K-15 Sagarika (750 km) and K-4 (3500 km, in development) are the Submarine-launched ballistic Missiles (SLBMs), thatcomplete India's nuclear triad by enabling second-strike capability from underwater locations.
K-15 Sagarika has been deployed in Arihant class SSBN.

Based on Tactical Importance

Tactical missiles are employed in the battlefield and frontline combat situations to strike and neutralise enemy assets and capabilities. India boasts an array of tactical missiles.

Prithvi-I (150km) and Prithvi-II (350 km) for battlefield roles and hitting strategic targets close to the border.
Prithvi-III naval variant (350 km) to boost coastal and seaborne deterrence from warships.
It is a Mach 3 "fire-and-forget" missile, inducted in all three services of the Indian Armed Forces.
Its variants include land, ship, submarine, and air-launched missiles.
BrahMos II , the hypersonic cruise missile, is currently in the developing phase.

Types of Missiles Based on Propulsion

Missiles utilise different types of propulsion and guidance systems based on their range, launch platform and targets. Key missile propulsion systems are:

Example: Prithvi, Brahmos.
It has higher efficiency and throttle ability.
Recently, India has successfully tested the Agni-Prime missile with solid propellant, making it lighter than other Agni series missiles.
Example: Used in Brahmos hypersonic cruise missile prototype.
Example: Employed in long-range Agni-V ICBM.
Example: Under development (India’s HGV and Brahmos-II).

Based on Guidance Systems

Guidance systems enable missiles to accurately reach targets. Various guidance technologies are:

Example: Nag anti-tank missile .
Example: Agni ballistic missiles.
Example: Prithvi missiles.
Example: Helina anti-tank missile, Anti-Tank Guided Missile for MBT Arjun, etc.
Example: Brahmos cruise missile.

India’s indigenous missiles significantly augment its military might and play a key role in defence preparedness:

Strategic deterrence : Long-range ballistic missiles like Agni provide minimum credible deterrence and give India retaliatory second-strike capability against nuclear attacks.
Tactical battle capability : Short-range Prithvi and BrahMos missiles allow deep tactical strikes against enemy airbases, logistics, and other targets to gain a battlefield edge.
Coastal defence: Anti-ship versions of BrahMos and surface-to-air missiles guard India’s vast coastline against hostile warships and aircraft.
Enhanced air power : Air-to-air missiles like Astra enhance the capability of IAF jets for air combat and strikes. Air-launched cruise missiles turn fighters into potent missile carriers.

While India has made significant progress in developing advanced missile technologies, a few key challenges need to be addressed:

Developing comprehensive domestic production capabilities across electronics, and guidance systems remains vital.
Prioritisation frameworks balancing strategic needs, technical capacity and review mechanisms must guide planning.
Self-sufficiency as well as global lobbying efforts are important.
Attracting private capital through appropriate PPP and other models is imperative.

PYQs on Missiles of India

Question 1: Consider the following statements: (UPSC Prelims 2023)

Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powred only in the initial phase of flight.
Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahmMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (d)

Question 2: With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2014)

It is a surface-to-surface missile.
It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.
It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only

Answer: (a)

FAQs on Missiles of India

What are the major types of missiles developed by india.

India has developed a wide range of missiles, including ballistic missiles (Agni, Prithvi), cruise missiles (BrahMos, Nirbhay), anti-tank missiles (Nag, HELINA), surface-to-air missiles (Akash, Astra), and anti-ballistic missiles (Prithvi Air Defence).

Which is India's longest-range ballistic missile?

Agni-V is India’s longest-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile, with a range of over 5000 km. It was developed by DRDO and inducted in 2020.

How does India’s missile technology strengthen its defence?

India’s missiles augment its conventional military capabilities and provide credible minimum nuclear deterrence. They bolster coastal security, air defence and tactical battle readiness across various threat scenarios.

What navigation systems are used in Indian missiles?

Indian missiles use a mix of inertial guidance, satellite navigation systems like GPS/IRNSS, radar seekers and optical terminal guidance for highly accurate strikes.

Which country collaborates with India on the BrahMos missile?

BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has been jointly developed and produced by India's DRDO and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia. India has inducted BrahMos in all three armed forces.

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India’s Ballistic Missile Defence System: Why should we need it?

Last updated on January 16, 2024 by ClearIAS Team

Table of Contents

What are Ballistic missiles?

Launching of Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile

A ballistic missile/projectile follows a “ballistic trajectory”.
The ballistic trajectory is the path followed by the projectile (missile) after thrust forces (propulsion) stop and the projectile is only acted upon by gravity and friction (drag forces).
A ballistic missile thus is guided in the initial phase, i.e. lift off, while the rest of the trajectory is dependent on gravity and requires minimal guidance.

What are the advantages of Ballistic Missile?

They have a very long range, as they travel above the atmosphere, experience less drag, and use gravity and earth’s rotation.
They are highly fuel efficient. Only fuel requirements are during the lift-off phase and course correction measures.
Multiple independent targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRV) capability can be achieved in ballistic missiles.
Due to fuel efficiency, their payload-carrying capacity is significantly more than cruise missiles.

What’s a Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) System?

A Ballistic Missile Defence system (BMD) is a missile defence system that acts as a shield against ballistic missile attacks.
You may not that the purpose is defence (by intercepting a ballistic missile) and not attack/offense.

A ballistic missile can be intercepted in three phases:

Terminal phase: During the atmospheric descent phase.
Mid-course interception (in-flight interception) – Most preferred interception.
The lift-off phase – i.e. targeting at the launch point- requires advanced radars.

Generally, a BMD is a two-tier automated system which has:

The advanced radar system, Early warning system ( Also called sensors system).
Integrated command and control centre.
Interceptor missile batteries- need to be agile, mobile, and strategically located on land and sea.

India’s Ballistic Missile Defence System

India’s BMD development began in 1999, after the Kargil war.
The primary aim was to bolster India’s defence against a possible nuclear attack from Pakistan . It holds a place of prime importance especially when India follows the ‘No first use’ policy.
India seeks to deploy a functional ‘iron dome’ ballistic missile defence (BMD), incorporating both low-altitude and high-altitude interceptor missiles.
India’s BMD is primarily developed by DRDO with the help of many public and private firms like BEL, Astra Microwave, L&T, etc.

India’s BMD is being developed in 2 phases:

The first phase aims to develop a shield to intercept missiles with a range of up to 2000 km. 1st phase radar range is up to 600 km.
The second phase will have an intercept missile with a 5000 km range. The radar range of this phase would be 1500 km.

Two- tiers of India’s BMD

They are Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) and Advanced Air Defence (AAD) respectively.

Prithvi Air Defence (PAD)

Also referred to as Pradyumna Ballistic Missile Interceptor.
It’s designed for High-altitude interception ( exo-atmospheric interception).
Intercept missiles at altitudes between 50 – 80 km.
The interceptor is a Prithvi Defence Vehicle ( PDV) which has two stages, both with solid propellants.

Advanced Air Defence (AAD)

Also called Ashwin Ballistic Missile Interceptor.
It’s an endo-atmospheric interception system ( for low-altitude interception).
Altitude of interception is range up to 30 km.
It has a single-stage solid-fueled missile.

Configurations of BMD

According to Lieutenant General Balraj Nagal (retired), director of the Centre for Land Warfare Studies. There are five possible configurations of BMD. These are:

A land and sea-based defence system against all kinds of threats. This system is too expensive and requires too much technological and infrastructural development. Though it is the safest configuration, it still isn’t 100% secure.
In the Second configuration, BMD is deployed to protect critical population centres, control, and command centres, critical infrastructure centres (including nuclear facilities), and major economic zones. It’s strategically and economically more pragmatic than the first configuration. Yet, it is too costly for a nation like India.
In the third configuration, protection is provided to command and control centres, nuclear forces, and important citizen population centres.
BMD will protect command and control centres nuclear forces and the capital in the fourth configuration. This is the most suitable candidate considering the nascent stage of India’s BMD and also the weak financial condition of the nation. It protects critical nodes of governance as well as of counter-attack.
The final configuration would involve BMD deployment only around the command and control centre and the capital. Its purpose is only for total defence and not able to provide the ability to counterattack as nuclear forces are left out of it.

Why should India need BMD?

India follows the ‘No First Use policy ‘. A robust BMD provides an opportunity for the nation to strike back if a nuclear projectile is launched by an enemy state.
In the past efforts have been made by radicalized non-state fractions in Pakistan to obtain Missile technology. BMD would shield from non-state actors initiated missile warfare and thus could avoid the Mutual Destruction trap.
India has hostile, nuclear states in its north. It’s only practical for the nation to prepare in advance.
China is developing new technologies to implement its Anti-Access/Area-Denial (A2/AD) strategy in the Western Pacific. It can impact the mainland in Indian water. A robust BMD is a proactive measure to tackle China’s A2/AD strategy.
BMD reduces the incentive for the enemy state to launch a nuclear attack, Thus enhancing strategic stability.
An indigenous system would reduce the import bill of defence systems from other nations.
There are side benefits of BMD too, like better reconnaissance, detection, tracking, and situation awareness.
Technology developed for BMD can be used in other sectors, especially in space technology.

Apprehensions regarding BMD

It may start the arms race with Pakistan investing in more powerful missiles to thwart BMD’s disturbing strategic balance.
BMD is ineffective against Cruise missiles. Both China and Pakistan have cruise missiles capable of delivering the nuclear payload.
No BMD can have a 100% success rate in the interception of the projectile (ballistic missile).
BMD is a very costly affair. For example, the U.S. Continental System is estimated to have cost around $100 bn from 2002 onwards.
India has a wide and segregated geography. It creates a problem in the protection of all critical centres and the creation of land infrastructure for BMD in many areas.
Even after interception, there remain chances of damage, especially if the interception is done in the terminal phase of the ballistic missile.
BMD testing is done in a controlled atmosphere raising the question of its efficacy in wartime.
DRDO has been criticized for not releasing whole data related to the BMD system. It evokes a sense of suspicion regarding BMD’s capability.

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Table of Contents

India’s Missile Defence Systems

Ballistic missile defence system.

2-tier missile defence system
Aimed at intercepting aerial threat from ballistic missiles that have ranges upto 5000km at altitudes both outside (exo) and inside (endo) the atmosphere
The single stage solid rocket-propelled Advanced Air Defence (AAD) low-altitude interceptor missile. ( Ashwin )
The AAD interceptor missile is primarily designed to intercept enemy missiles in the endo-atmosphere at altitudes of 20-40 kilometers.
Prithvi Air Defense Vehicle known as Pradyumna Ballistic Missile Interceptor is designed to destroy missiles with ranges 300-2000 km at exo-atmosphere (about 80km altitude).
For higher altitudes upto 150 km, Agni-V-based ballistic interceptors would be used. (because of 5000km range)

Multi-Layered Air Defence System: S-400

Alternatives: thaad and patriot.

India has signed a deal with Russia to acquire S-400 Triumf multi-layered air defence system.
S-400 is known as Russia’s most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.
S-400 layered defence system can intercept all types of aerial targets including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and ballistic and cruise missiles up to the range of 400km, at an altitude of up to 30km
Capable of firing three types of missiles to create a layered defence.
Note : USA is offering THAAD and Patriot as alternative to S-400 to India.

Iron Dome : Israeli SHORT-RANGE AIR DEFENSE

Barak-8 Long and Medium Range SAM

Medium-range surface-to-air missile system being developed jointly by India and Isreal.
It will have an interception range of 70-100 km.
Part of naval air defence system to be used aboard INS Vikrant (under construction)
Maximum speed of Mach 2.

Akash Medium-Range Surface to Air Missile System

India has 2 regiments of the indigenous Akash systems which are capable of multi-target engagement.
It can strike targets up to a range of 25km and altitude of 18,000m.

Multi-layered Air Defence System for Delhi

India is developing a multi-layered air defence system for its cities besides air defence system for tactical battle areas.
1st layer: 2-tier Ballistic Missile Defence System
2nd Layer: S-400 layered defence system
3rd Layer: Barak-8 long and medium range SAM
4th Layer: Akash medium-range surface to air missile system
5th Layer: NASAMS-2
India is acquiring NASAMS-2 from US.
NASAMS 2 will form the inner-most layer of Delhi Area Air Defence Plan that has been conceived of.
It will be deployed to protect vital assets and people in the National Capital region of Delhi including President’s house, Parliament etc.
It renders quick-reaction 3-dimensional protection at low altitudes of 5 km to various types of aerial threats ranging from drones to ballistic missiles.
12 multi-missile launchers to launch both advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles AMRAAMs and Stinger surface-air-missiles
Sentinel X-band 3D radars
4 Fire distribution centres
Advanced electro-optical/infrared sensor system vehicles.

Hypersonic Missiles

Travels at Mach 5 or higher (more than one mile per second)
They typically consist of a Supersonic Combustion Ramjet or Scramjet propulsion system to enable such high speeds.
Scramjet engine collects oxygen from the atmosphere as it is travelling and mixes the oxygen with its hydrogen fuel, creating the combustion needed for hypersonic travel.
India is developing a Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV )
It is an unmanned scramjet (allowing supersonic combustion) demonstration vehicle that can cruise to a speed of mach 6 (or six times the speed of sound) and rise up to an altitude of 32 km in 20 seconds. It has been developed by DRDO.
Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCM)
Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV)

Significance

They are a mix of the speed of a ballistic missile and maneouvering capabilities of a cruise missile
While cruise missiles achieve speeds of 550 mile per hour, the hypersonic missiles aircrafts can reach speeds more than 3500 miles per hour.
Capable of penetrating any antimissile defence system currently available that are designed to intercept cruise and ballistic missiles.
Specifically designed for increased survivalibility against modern ballistic missile defence systems.

Difference Between Cruise and Ballistic Missiles

Cruise missiles are guided, low-altitude, and precise. Ballistic missiles are unguided, high-speed, long-range, and follow a high trajectory. Check Difference between Cruise and Ballistic Missiles.

Table of Contents

Cruise missiles are guided, jet or propeller-driven projectiles that can fly at low altitudes, follow a flexible path, and are capable of precision strikes. Ballistic missiles, on the other hand, are unguided, rocket-powered weapons that follow a high, arching trajectory before descending toward their target. They are typically much faster and have longer ranges, but they lack the in-flight manoeuvrability of cruise missiles, making them more suitable for long-range and strategic strikes.

Recently North Korea continued its weapons testing, firing cruise missiles amidst escalating tensions and “war preparations” against South Korea. Know the Difference between Cruise and Ballistic Missiles in This article.

Cruise Missiles

Cruise missiles are self-propelled, guided weapons that can be launched from various platforms, including aircraft, ships, or ground-based launchers. They are designed to fly at low altitudes and can be programmed to follow a specific flight path, often hugging the terrain, which makes them difficult to detect and intercept. Cruise missiles can carry various types of warheads and are used for precise, long-range strikes on specific targets, such as military installations, infrastructure, or high-value targets. Their ability to navigate and adapt during flight provides them with a high degree of accuracy.

Examples of Cruise missiles

Tomahawk: The United States Navy’s Tomahawk cruise missile is one of the most well-known examples. It’s used for long-range precision strikes and can be launched from ships and submarines.
BrahMos: A joint venture between India and Russia, the BrahMos cruise missile is one of the fastest supersonic cruise missiles in the world.
AGM-86 ALCM: The United States Air Force employs the AGM-86 Air-Launched Cruise Missile as a nuclear-armed cruise missile.
Storm Shadow / SCALP: Developed by France and the UK, this air-launched cruise missile is used for precision strikes against high-value targets.
Kalibr: A family of cruise missiles used by Russia, including anti-ship, land-attack, and anti-submarine variants.
JASSM: The Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, used by the United States and several other countries, is designed for precision strikes against high-value, well-defended targets.

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Ballistic Missiles

Ballistic missiles are unguided rockets that follow a high, parabolic trajectory when launched, ascending into space and then descending rapidly toward their target. They can carry nuclear or conventional warheads and are categorized based on their range: short-range, medium-range, intermediate-range, and intercontinental-range missiles.

Ballistic missiles are known for their high speed and long-range capabilities, making them suitable for delivering strategic or long-range strikes. Unlike cruise missiles, they lack in-flight manoeuvrability but rely on their high velocity and trajectory to reach their intended targets. They are a key component of many countries’ military arsenals.

Examples of Ballistic Missiles

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM): The Minuteman III ICBM used by the United States is a prime example, designed for delivering nuclear payloads over intercontinental distances.
Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM): The Trident II D5, used by the U.S. Navy, is an example of an SLBM capable of being launched from submarines.
Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM): The Russian Iskander-M is an MRBM used for shorter-range precision strikes.
Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM): The North Korean Hwasong-15 is an example of a SRBM with an extended range, designed for regional threats.
Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM): The Chinese DF-26 is an example of an IRBM designed for regional and strategic purposes.

Here you can check the major Differences Between Cruise and Ballistic Missiles:

Ballistic vs. Cruise Missiles

Difference Between Cruise and Ballistic Missiles_4.1

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Difference Between Cruise and Ballistic Missiles FAQs

What's the main difference between cruise and ballistic missiles.

Cruise missiles are guided, air-breathing, and offer in-flight maneuverability, while ballistic missiles are unguided, rocket-powered, and follow a high-arching trajectory.

Is cruise missile better than ballistic missile?

The suitability of cruise or ballistic missiles depends on the mission. Cruise missiles excel at precision strikes, while ballistic missiles offer long-range and high-speed capabilities for strategic objectives.

Which is faster ballistic or cruise?

Ballistic missiles are generally faster than cruise missiles. Ballistic missiles can travel at supersonic to hypersonic speeds, while cruise missiles are typically subsonic or supersonic but slower than ballistic missiles.

Is the BrahMos cruise or ballistic?

The BrahMos is a cruise missile. It is a supersonic cruise missile developed jointly by India and Russia and is known for its high speed and precision in striking targets.

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Ballistic Missiles

January 24, 2022
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN Topics

Subject – Science and Tech

Context – UAE shoots down 2 ballistic missiles fired by Houthis over Abu Dhabi

A ballistic missile follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver one or more warheads on a predetermined target.
It is a rocket-propelled self-guided strategic-weapons system that follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver a payload from its launch site to a predetermined target.
These weapons are guided only during relatively brief periods—most of the flight is unpowered.
Short-range ballistic missiles stay within the Earth’s atmosphere, while intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are launched on a sub-orbital trajectory.
These weapons are in a distinct category from cruise missiles, which are aerodynamically guided in powered flight.
They can be launched from aircraft, ships, and submarines in addition to land-based silos and mobile platforms.
Ballistic missiles can carry conventional high explosives as well as chemical, biological, or nuclear munitions.

Ballistic Missile Classes and Range

Difference Between Ballistic Missiles and Cruise Missiles

Unlike the long arcing trajectory of a ballistic missile, a cruise missile travels at lower altitudes and on far straighter trajectories.
Cruise missiles don’t leave the atmosphere at any point during their flight, nor do they travel unpowered for any significant duration.
Cruise missiles can be launched from land, sea or air for land attacks and anti-shipping purposes, and can travel at subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic speeds.
A cruise missile either locates its target or has a preset target.
Since they stay relatively close to the surface of the earth, they cannot be detected easily by anti-missile systems, and are designed to carry large payloads with high precision.

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What are the differences between a ballistic missile and a cruise missile.

Many countries choose missiles because they may be deployed efficiently against an enemy with a strong air defense system , making the use of human aircraft in such an attack impossible or too expensive. There is less need for personnel, supplies, and upkeep when using missiles instead of manned aircraft.

So, What are the Differences between a Ballistic Missile and a Cruise Missile?

When a missile test is being reported, the terms “ballistic missile” and “cruise missile” are frequently used. Ballistic and cruise missile systems are seen as emblems of national power and a cost-effective armament by many governments. Cruise and ballistic missiles are widely used by many countries, both offensively and defensively.

How do cruise missiles and ballistic missiles maneuver, and what are the differences between the basic principles of these maneuvers?

Guided cruise and ballistic missiles were first used when Germany attacked targets in England and Northern Europe with V1 cruise missiles and V2 ballistic missiles during World War II . Although these missiles were inaccurate, their use resulted in tens of thousands of Allied casualties.

The Federation of American Scientists says that a ballistic weapon follows a ballistic path for most of its flight. That means once the rocket’s fuel is gone, it will keep moving, just like a bullet does after being shot out of a gun.

Ballistic missiles climb very high, exiting the atmosphere. According to Wikipedia, short-range ballistic missiles stay within the Earth’s atmosphere, while intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are launched on a sub-orbital trajectory.

According to one definition, a sub-orbital space flight reaches an altitude greater than 100 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. At this altitude, known as the Kármán line, once the fuel runs out, the missile’s direction cannot be altered; it follows a path based on the speed of its launch and the force of gravity attempting to pull it back to the Earth’s surface. Gravity eventually guides the missile and its payload toward its intended target, which could be a chemical or biological weapon or a nuclear device.

Ballistic missiles are broadly categorized into four groups based on their range:

Short-range ballistic missiles cover distances less than 1,000 kilometers (approximately 620 miles).
Medium-range ballistic missiles spanning 1,000 to 3,000 kilometers (approximately 620 to 1860 miles).
Intermediate-range ballistic missiles range from 3,000 to 5,500 kilometers (approximately 1860 to 3410 miles).
Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are capable of traveling over 5,500 kilometers, thus posing a threat to targets across the globe.

Top 10 Short Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBMs)

Short- and medium-range ballistic missiles are called theatre ballistic missiles, while ICBMs and long-range ballistic missiles are referred to as strategic ballistic missiles. On their flight path, ballistic missiles are capable of traveling at a high rate of speed. With terminal velocities of over 5,000 meters per second, an ICBM can strike a target within a range of 10,000 kilometers in approximately 30 to 35 minutes. Due to the limited time available, ballistic missiles are significantly more difficult to intercept than cruise missiles.

For example, the Russian RS-28 Sarmat ICBM can reach almost 25,000 kilometers per hour or over 15,000 miles per hour. To further complicate matters, most ICBMs carry not a unitary large warhead but several smaller and fully independent nuclear missiles called MIRVs (Multiple Independently Targeted Re-entry Vehicle).

The Sarmat can carry up to 24 MIRVs; each MIRV carries nuclear warheads with yields ranging anywhere from hundreds of kilotons to a few megatons. Each MIRV can hit a target hundreds of kilometers away from each other, and some MIRVs will carry decoys and countermeasures, putting additional stress on defensive systems.

Even though cruise missiles are cheaper, more mobile, and more versatile, ballistic missiles are among the most feared armaments in existence. No nation has launched an ICBM as an act of war against another nation, although some nations have tested these missiles during training exercises.

Cruise missiles are unmanned vehicles that are propelled by jet engines, much like an airplane with turbofan engines, in particular being preferred due to their greater efficiency at low altitudes. They range in speed from subsonic to hypersonic, while less common supersonic and hypersonic cruise missiles utilize ramjet and scramjet engines. They can be launched from ground, airplane, and sea platforms like submarines and surface warships.

They tend to have shorter ranges than ballistic missiles. Unlike ballistic missiles, cruise missiles are usually categorized by intended missions and launch mode instead of maximum range. The two broadest categories are land attack cruise missiles (LACMs ) and anti-shipping cruise missiles (ASCMs) . The success of U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles during the Persian Gulf War has heightened interest in cruise missile acquisition in many countries.

Cruise missiles can reach their objectives from a variety of altitudes so long as they remain within the atmosphere. The trajectory of the vast majority of objects remains close to the Earth’s surface, occasionally hovering just meters above the ground. Their low flight path makes it difficult for most radar and sensor systems to detect the missile unless the radar or sensor system is airborne and directed toward the ground.

Some cruise missiles can only fly at extremely high altitudes, and then they descend steeply once they’ve reached their destination. Higher-altitude flight uses less fuel than lower-altitude flight, allowing the missile to travel further. Unfortunately, modern radars and sensors are often set up to identify and track threats at high altitudes, making the missile more vulnerable to missile defense systems.

Altitude Variation for Tactical Advantage

Cruise missiles are renowned for dynamically altering their flight trajectory, capitalizing on both high and low altitudes. This strategic maneuver enhances their overall performance by combining the advantages of different altitudes. Typically, these missiles initiate their journey at high altitudes to extend their operational range.

However, as they near their target or potential missile defenses, they adeptly descend to lower altitudes, skimming the sea or terrain. This transition serves to elude detection and countermeasures, highlighting the adaptability of cruise missiles in various operational scenarios.

Precision Strikes Defined

The hallmark characteristic of cruise missiles lies in their remarkable precision. Often boasting ranges under 300 kilometers, with the most extended variants reaching approximately 1600 kilometers, these missiles exhibit extraordinary accuracy.

A frequently cited example underscores this accuracy, asserting that cruise missiles can cover a thousand miles and hit a target as compact as a single-car garage. This precision opens avenues for surgical strikes and minimizes collateral damage in contemporary warfare.

Guidance Mechanisms for Pinpoint Accuracy

Cruise missiles harness a repertoire of guidance methods to ensure the impeccable placement of their payloads on intended targets while outmaneuvering missile defense systems. Among these methods, inertial guidance stands as a foundational approach, relying on a pre-programmed flight path set before launch.

Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM): Navigating with Terrain

Another pivotal guidance method is Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) . This intricate mechanism involves the comparison of an onboard terrain map with the actual topography over which the missile traverses. This technique guarantees the missile’s adherence to the designated path, further reinforcing its accuracy and operational efficacy.

Precision Through Global Positioning: GPS and GLONASS

Several cruise missiles integrate GPS systems to achieve pinpoint accuracy. These systems necessitate connectivity with the GPS or GLONASS satellite networks and facilitate adherence to predetermined flight paths. Cruise missiles can strike designated targets with unparalleled precision by leveraging specific coordinates, augmenting their role in modern warfare.

Enhancing Terminal Phase Precision

Cruise missiles deploy advanced guidance methods in the terminal phase of flight to elevate their accuracy.

Laser-Guided Precision: Target Painting

Laser-guided systems emerge as a crucial asset in this phase. Equipped with sensors, these systems detect targets designated by laser markers. While immensely accurate, this method can be vulnerable to interference from environmental factors such as dust and smoke, potentially hindering target acquisition.

TV Guidance: Human Intervention

Terminal guidance can also involve TV guidance, where an operator employs a nose-mounted camera to identify the target and manually guide the missile visually. This dynamic approach allows operators to abort the strike if anomalies are detected, underscoring the human element in precision warfare.

Radar Seekers: Radar-Equipped Accuracy

Certain cruise missiles integrate radar seekers in their nose sections to identify and remain on course toward their targets during the terminal phase. These seekers may utilize passive radar to detect emissions from the target’s radar or active radar to emit signals for target detection.

Infrared (IR) Guidance: Homing in on Heat

Infrared (IR) guidance presents yet another terminal phase technique, steering missiles toward heat-emitting sources like engines. Despite its efficacy, IR guidance’s simplicity renders it incapable of distinguishing between friendly, adversarial, or extraneous IR signals in crowded battlefields. Consequently, it is often employed alongside other guidance systems.

Digital Scene Matching Area Correlation (DSMAC): Image-Reliant Precision

Among the diverse guidance methods, Digital Scene Matching Area Correlation (DSMAC) relies on an onboard camera to identify the target. This image is then compared to a stored reference image using an image correlator, accentuating the missile’s ability to refine target identification during the terminal phase.

Cruise Missiles: Transformative Force in Modern Warfare

Cruise missiles hold a pivotal role across all military branches, reshaping the landscape of modern warfare. Their effective utilization in contemporary conflicts has the potential to sway the outcome without resorting to nuclear options.

As technology advances, the horizon holds promises of more intelligent, self-managing, and hypersonic cruise missiles entering the global market. Irrespective of these changes, cruise missiles are poised to endure as one of the most dependable weapons in the foreseeable future.

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Difference Between Ballistic And Cruise Missile With Examples

A missile is one of the most important technological advanced projectile which is used for various purpose like scientific, military and space exploration. Missiles are guided and self propelled vehicles that can carry payload such as explosive warheads. In this article we are going to study about different types of missiles and difference between ballistic and cruise missile , cruise missile vs ballistic missile.

Table of Contents

Ballistic Missile Meaning

These are based on rocket technology, to maximize range they are fired at 45 degree, the long range ballistic missile are known as re-entry vehicles because they complete their journey in endo and exo atmosphere. They have three phases to take off midcourse, race and termination.

Classification of Ballistic missile

These are classified on various parameters i.e. Nature and Range.

Nature – on the basis of nature they are surface to surface, surface to air, and air to air missiles.
Short-Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBMs ) : These missiles range up to 700 km, it is a single stage solid fuel based. Examples : Iskander Missile (Russia), DF21 (China), LORA (Israel), Ghaznavi (Pakistan), Prithvi missile (India).
Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs) : These missiles range range between approximately 1,000 and 3,000 kilometres (620 to 1,860 miles). Example Hwasong-12 (North Korea), Agni 1 (India), Khoramshahr 4 (Iran).
Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs) : IRBMs missiles have a range between around 3,000 and 5,500 kilometres (1,860 to 3,420 miles). Example : Agni missile 2, 3, 4.
Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) : ICBMs have the longest range exceeding 5,500 kilometres (3,420 miles). They are designed to travel across continents or even around the world. Example : RS 28 Sarmat (Russia), Minuteman III (United States), Dongfeng-41 (China), Hwasong-15 (North Korea) Agni 5 (India).
Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) : These missiles are launched from submarines.
Hypersonic Ballistic Missiles : missiles travel at speeds greater than Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound).
Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles (ASBMs) : ASBMs are designed to target ships, particularly aircraft carriers and other naval vessels.

Cruise missile

Cruise Missile is based on jet technology. Travels only in endo atmosphere, and move parallel to earth’s surface therefore airborne radars are completely effective in detecting them. These missiles are equipped with guidance systems.

Classification of Cruise missile

Subsonic : These are guided missile that travels at speeds slower than the speed of sound, which is approximately 343 meters per second (or 1,125 feet per second). Example Nirbhay, Tomahawk, Harpoon Missile.
Supersonic Missile : travels at speed which is more than speed of sound. Example Brahmos, kh 47m2 Kinzhal.
Hypersonic : Travels at speeds which is greater than the speed of sound. Speeds are generally considered to be Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) or faster. Example : Brahmos 2, Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.

Nirbhay Missile

Agni missile, difference between ballistic and cruise missile

It is India’s subsonic cruise missile with speed of 0.7 mach with range of 1100- 1300 km.
It is nuclear capable and operated on principle of fire and forget.
Nirbhay missile is not a stalled missile but to avoid detection from radar if enemy, it follows tree top trajectory.
It is that uncomfortable fight for enemies’ radar which makes it difficult for them to detect consignment.

Tomahawk Missile

It is a USA subsonic cruise missile with speed of 0.74 mach with range of approximately 2400 km.
Tomahawk is a long range, all weather missile, primarily used by the United States of America Navy.
It has an Inertial Navigation System , flies at very low altitude and during flight it can be reprogrammed to change target.

Brahmos Missile

Fastest cruise missile in the world in its category.
The Brahmos missile speed is Mach 2.8 and has a range of 290 kilometres, or approximately three times the speed of sound.
The Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers in Russia inspired the its name, which was jointly developed with Russia.

Difference Between Ballistic And Cruise Missile

Are ballistic missiles better than cruise?

Yes ballistic missiles are better than cruise, ballistic are not restricted to atmosphere they can travel both above it and into the outer space.

Is BrahMos a cruise or ballistic missile?

It is Supersonic Cruise Missile.

Is Agni a ballistic missile?

Yes, Agni is a ballistic missile.

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Difference Between Ballistic Missiles And Cruise Missiles

The most important advantage of a ballistic missile is its extremely high speed, extremely large range and can carry many warheads.

Ballistic missiles are generally divided into two categories, short-range ballistic missiles and long-range ballistic missiles (also known as intercontinental ballistic missiles). While short-range ballistic missiles have maximum altitude under the atmosphere, long-range ballistic missiles can reach space altitude before “falling” back to earth.

Due to its extremely high speed and high trajectory, ballistic missiles are extremely difficult to intercept. However, this type of missile is very easy to detect immediately after launch.

The second type of missile is more modern and also much more accurate, the cruise missile. Cruise missiles typically have a shorter range than long-range ballistic missiles, but their accuracy is extremely high.

Basically, a cruise missile is like a jet, it will use an engine to continuously maintain speed, can “glide” in the air, change the trajectory even on the fly. This gives cruise missiles a great deal of flexibility, able to fly at low or high altitudes. It can change its target while in flight, and change its altitude through each phase to ensure secrecy and surprise.

Thanks to its high accuracy, cruise missiles can hit even moving targets, such as enemy warships. Most anti-ship missiles today are cruise missiles. However, due to the need for fuel during flight, the cruise missile has a limited range, and its weight and number of warheads are also limited, often with a single warhead.

The maximum speed of the cruise missile is also not too high, usually only from Mach 0.8 like the Nirbhay missile to Mach 3 like the BrahMos missile. With hypersonic missiles, the speed is no more than Mach 5.

Due to its high accuracy, cruise missiles are often equipped with conventional warheads. Meanwhile, ballistic missiles are often equipped with nuclear warheads, enough to destroy the target even though the accuracy is not high.

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Crusie missiles vs. ballistic missiles: what’s the difference.

These rocket motors carry the ballistic missile to a high altitude (boost phase) until the rocket fuel is entirely expended. At that point, known as the midcourse phase, the missile reaches its highest altitude before it begins to travel back down its arced flight path. For ICBMs, this phase can last up to 20 minutes, with the weapon itself traveling at speeds of around 15,000 miles per hour.

Cruise Basics

Cruise missiles don’t leave the atmosphere at any point during their flight, nor do they travel unpowered for any significant duration. Rather than rocket engines, cruise missiles are powered by turbofans just like many tactical aircraft, and most often, even have wings that deploy after they’ve launched. Some cruise missiles can even be guided into their target by remote operators using cameras on the weapon’s nose, again, not unlike piloting a drone or UAV.

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Role of Ballistic and Cruise Missiles in International Security

First Online: 03 February 2024

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‘Security dilemma’ exists and because it exists, states fall victim to this. This leads states to strengthen their hard power prowess to possess credible combat and deterrent capability. This credibility is measured not only in quantitative terms but also in qualitative terms. If hard power is integral in a state’s power calculus, missiles are an integral component in that calculus. They provide a sense of power and prestige to the state possessing them. Any state that aspires to become great power or regional power ideally look towards strengthening their hard power capability. This can enable a state to maintain its independent foreign policy, hence protecting its sovereignty rather than aligning with the thought processes of its partners and allies.

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Rahul K. Bhonsle, “Strategies for Enhancing India’s Comprehensive National Power,” Vivekananda International Foundation , March 2016 ( https://www.vifindia.org/sites/default/files/strategies-for-enhancing-india-s-comprehesive-national-power.pdf ).

Josh Smith, et al., “A Space Race on the Korean Peninsula,” Reuters , July 21, 2023 (A Space Race on the Korean Peninsula [ reuters.com ]).

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Barbara Starr, Jill Dougherty, and Mike Mount, “Assad Forces Fire Scud Missiles in Syria, U.S. Officials Say,” CNN , December 13, 2012 ( https://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/12/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html ).

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Debalina Ghoshal, “North Korea Continues to Develop Ballistic Missiles,” Gatestone Policy Institute , August 29, 2014 ( https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4654/north-korea-ballistic-missiles ).

Bonnie Jenkins, “A Peace Treaty Could Be Essential to North Korean Denuclearisation,” Axios , February 26, 2019 ( https://www.axios.com/a-peace-treaty-is-essential-for-north-korean-denuclearization-dc691119-dacd-4072-a7d0-546e5451b44c.html ).

Ryan Pickrell, “China Has Been Practicing Sinking Ships in the South China Sea,” Business Insider , July 2, 2019 ( https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/china-has-been-practicing-sinking-ships-with-missiles-in-the-south-china-sea/articleshow/70043588.cms ).

Burc Eruygur, “Russia Says Iskander Missile System Handed Over to Belarus,” AA , April 4, 2023 (Russia Says Iskander Missile System Handed Over to Belarus [ https://www.aa.com.tr/en/russia-ukraine-war/russia-says-iskander-missile-system-handed-over-to-belarus/2863152 ]).

Jack L. Snyder, “Perceptions of Security Dilemma in 1914,” in ed., Robert Jervis, Richard Ned Lebow and Janice Gross Stein, Psychology and Deterrence (USA: John Hopkins University Press, 1985), p. 179.

John Merrill and Ilan Peleg, “Nuclear Compellence: The Political Use of the Bomb,” Israel Research Institute of Contemporary Society , Cross Roads , No. 11, 1984 ( https://nautilus.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Merrill-Peleg-Nuclear-Compellence-Crossroads-11-1984-pp-19-39.pdf ).

Patrick Kenyette, “Ethiopia Enhances Rocket and Artillery Capabilities,” Military Africa , February 1, 2023 (Ethiopia Enhances Rocket and Artillery Capabilities – Military Africa).

“Rare Light Shone on Pakistan’s Full Spectrum Deterrence Policy,” Dawn , December 7, 2017 ( https://www.dawn.com/news/1375079 ).

Monica Montgomery, “Japan Looks to Purchase Cruise Missiles,” Arms Control Association , July/August 2018 (Japan Looks to Purchase Cruise Missiles | Arms Control Association).

See Abbas Qaidari, “President Hassan Rouhani’s Defence Policy,” Atlantic Council , February 11, 2016 ( https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/president-hassan-rouhani-s-defense-policy ).

IRGC commander Maj Gen Hossein Salami’s interview, “Iran Tests Missile System—Revolutionary Guard,” Deutsche Welle , August 24, 2019 ( https://www.dw.com/en/iran-tests-missile-system-revolutionary-guard/a-50149087 ).

Burak Ege Bekdil, “Turkey Eyes Offensive Missiles to Boost Deterrence,” Defense News , January 16, 2016 ( https://www.defensenews.com/land/2016/01/16/turkey-eyes-offensive-missiles-to-boost-deterrence/ ).

Phil Mattingly, et al., “Exclusive: US Intel Shows Saudi Arabia Escalated Its Missile Program with Help from China,” CNN , June 5, 2019 (US Intel Shows Saudi Arabia Has expanded Its Ballistic Missile Program | CNN Politics).

Zachary Cohen, “CNN Exclusive: US Intel and Satellite Images Show Saudi Arabia Is Now Building Its Own Ballistic Missiles with Help from China,” CNN , December 23, 2021 ( https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/23/politics/saudi-ballistic-missiles-china/index.html ).

Ashish Dangwal, “If Ukraine Had Enough Hrim-2 Missile Systems, Russia Would Not Have Dared TO Invade—Air Force Spokesperson,” The EurAsian Times , June 12, 2023 (If Ukraine Had Enough Hrim-2 Missile Systems, Russia Would Not Have Dared TO Invade—Air Force Spokesperson [ eurasiantimes.com ]).

Burak Eke Bekdil, “Turkey’s Own Atmaca Missile to Replace Harpoons on Its Navy Ships,” Defense News , February 10, 2022 (Turkey’s Own Atmaca Missile to Replace Harpoons on Its Navy Ships [ defensenews.com ]).

“‘Messages to Our Enemies’: Iran on Testing Ballistic Missile with 2000 km Range,” Hindustan Times , May 25, 2023, [ https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/iran-successfully-tests-ballistic-missile-with-2-000-km-range-101684998084084.html ]

John Mearsheimer, “Structural Realism” ( https://www.commackschools.org/Downloads/8_mearsheimer-_structural_realism.pdf ).

Shannon Bugos, “France Offers Nuclear Deterrent to All Europe,” Arms Control Association , March 2020 (France Offers Nuclear Deterrent to All Europe | Arms Control Association).

“Iran Hits Back at US Demand on Ballistic Missiles,” Al Jazeera , July 17, 2019 ( https://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2019/07/iran-hits-demands-ballistic-missiles-proxies-190716052354566.html ).

Burak Ege Bekdil, “Turkey Seeks to Expand Locally Built Missile,” Defense News , May 2, 2018 ( https://www.defensenews.com/land/2018/05/02/turkey-seeks-to-expand-range-of-locally-built-missile/ ).

Ali Topchi, “Why Is Sudan’s Suakin Island Important for Turkey?,” TRT World (Why Is Sudan’s Suakin Island Important for Turkey? [ trtworld.com ]).

For more on this, see Stephen J. Cimbala, “Nuclear Proliferation in the 21st Century: Realism, Rationality and Uncertainty,” Strategic Studies Quarterly , Vol. 11, No. 1, February 27, 2017 ( https://css.ethz.ch/en/services/digital-library/articles/article.html/fe357e59-ce1c-48cb-aca6-0b35e43c2e54 ).

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Debalina Ghoshal, “India’s Agni Missile Systems: Strengthening India’s Nuclear Deterrence,” Artha Journal of Social Sciences , Vol. 17, No. 4, 2018 ( http://journals.christuniversity.in/index.php/artha/article/view/2006/1628 ).

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Ghoshal, D. (2023). Role of Ballistic and Cruise Missiles in International Security. In: Role Of Ballistic And Cruise Missiles In International Security. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-48063-8_3

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Iran Unleashes Sophisticated Missiles; Israel Counters with Cutting-Edge Defense

Iran launched a major attack on Israel with over 300 threats, including UAVs, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. Israeli technology and coalition intercepted 99% of them, with only minor damage reported

On Saturday evening, Iran initiated an unprecedented attack against Israel, launching over 300 aerial threats of various types. Including approximately 170 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), more than 30 cruise missiles, and 120 ballistic missiles. Israel reported a 99% success rate in the interception of threats.

“The Iranian threat met the aerial and technological superiority of the IDF, along with a strong fighting coalition—which together intercepted the overwhelming majority of the threats,” said IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari in a statement on Sunday, calling the event “a very significant strategic achievement.”

Uzi Rubin, former director of the Israeli Defense Ministry’s Missile Defense Organization, told The Media Line that while the Iranian threat is “real and deadly,” Israel is equipped to confront it. “They have very capable missiles, but we have very capable defense,” he added.

The IDF said only a few threats crossed into Israeli territory, with the rest being intercepted. “These fell at the Nevatim Air Force Base, causing only minor damage to infrastructure. As you can see, the base is operational and continues to carry out its missions,” the statement added.

One injury was reported as a result of the attack. A 7-year-old girl from a Bedouin village close to Arad, an Israeli Southern city, is reported to be seriously injured by shrapnel caused by one of the interceptions of the missiles.

What are the threats launched at Israel?

Among the over 300 threats launched on Saturday by Iran toward Israel are UAVs, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. Dr. Eyal Pinko, a former senior intelligence officer and professor at Bar-Ilan University, an expert in intelligence and cyber, and the former head of the Israeli Navy Interceptor’s development programs, unpacked the details during an interview with The Media Line.

The over 170 UAVs launched by Iran are called Shahid 139. This is a UAV mass-manufactured in Iran, and Russia is also using it against Ukraine, Pinko explained. “The Russians bought 9000 pieces of them to hit Ukraine, and most of the Russian attacks in Ukraine are with this UAV,” he added.

Pinko noted that this UAV is based on an Israeli UAV called “Harpy,” and Iran used reverse engineering to create it. “It goes very slowly,” said Pinko, adding that its speed is about 180km per hour. He noted that its range is 2700km, and it can carry about 40 kilos of explosives.

He notes that these UAVs are also known as suicide or Kamikaze drones, as their purpose is to crash and explode. “They determine the trajectory and the flight path, and according to the GPS, it just goes on to the place and crashes over,” he said.

Regarding the cruise missiles, of which some 30 were fired, Pinko says that it is very likely that the Abu Mahdi, also known as the Soumar missile, was the one used. “This is an Iranian-made cruise missile based on reverse engineering of Russian cruise missiles: KH 55,” he continued.

Pinko explained that it has a range of 2,500 kilometers, can carry some 200 kilos of explosives, and speeds about 800 km per hour. It also uses GPS navigation and image correlation technology to reach its target.

“Before launching the missile, they upload a picture of the target. The missile navigates to the area using GPS. Once it reaches the area, it has a seeker feature, which is basically a camera. It takes a picture of the target and does some kind of correlation between the target and the picture, and it dives into this target,” Pinko said.

According to the ranges of the over 120 ballistic missiles that Iran possesses in its arsenal, Pinko believes that either Sejjil or Emad types were launched. “These missiles go very fast, seven times the speed of sound,” he said.

Pinko adds that the difference between cruise and ballistic missiles is that while the cruise missile goes in a straight path, the ballistic missile leaves the atmosphere and then goes back inside. Ballistic missiles, he explained, come from above at an 80-degree angle.

Rubin noted that these ballistic missiles were used by Iran before against the United States after Kasem Soulemani’s assassination in 2020. In addition to that, he noted that the Houthis have used both the ballistic and the cruise missiles, which were provided by Iran, since October against Israel.

How did Israel defend itself from the attack?

Speaking about the high rate of success of the air defense technologies employed by Israel and its partners, Hagari said on Sunday morning that of approximately 170 UAVs, zero crossed into Israeli territory. “Dozens of them were intercepted by Israeli Air Force fighter jets, our Aerial Defense Array, and the aerial defense systems and aircraft of our partners.”

Of the more than 30 cruise missiles, none crossed into Israeli territory either, he added, noting that 25 of them were intercepted by IAF fighter jets outside the country’s borders.

And out of over 120 ballistic missiles, only a few crossed into Israeli territory, with the rest being intercepted, Hagari said, noting that the ones that fell reached the Nevatim Air Force Base, causing only minor damage to infrastructure.

Pinko says that for the UAVs and the cruise missile threats, Israel used the David Sling, adding that many were also intercepted by aircraft.

“The pilots got the coordinates of the target and fired air-to-air missiles,” he said, adding that this was done by Israeli aircraft and its partners in defense, which included the participation of the British, American, and Jordanian air forces.

Rubin says that the Iron Dome was also employed for these threats, adding that the ballistic missiles were intercepted by the Arrow, an Israeli air defense ground system designed for this kind of threat.

Pinko reiterated that this event showed the Israeli intelligence and air defense systems’ effectiveness. “The intelligence and the defense layers worked properly and even did an excellent job,” he said.

Inside Iran’s drone arsenal: From ‘Gaza’ to hypersonic missiles

I ran launched 120 ballistic missiles and over 170 explosive drones against Israel on Sunday. But almost all of those were shot down before reaching Israeli territory, according to the country’s forces.

This was the first time that Tehran directly launched an attack against Israel from its territory. Several missiles landed in Israel, causing damage to a military base in the country’s south.

Some Israel-bound Iranian drones were shot down by RAF and US warplanes over the Iraq-Syria border area. After the attacks, 12 people were being treated at a hospital in southern Israel.

What missiles and drones does Iran have?

“Gaza,” Iran’s top-of-the-line drone, has a 68-foot wingspan, a satellite link, and a range of 1,243 miles. According to The Wall Street Journal , Gaza could fly from Iran to Israel with 13 precision-guided bombs. This drone is an effort to catch up with the US-made General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper. In 2020, the US used the MQ-9A Reaper to kill Iranian commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Tehran’s arsenal also has Shahed-129, a common drone capable of carrying four explosives. Additionally, Iran manufactures suicide drones that carry explosives and crash into their targets.

In August 2023, Iran developed Mohajer-10, an advanced homemade drone. With an operational range of 1,240 miles (2,000 km ), this drone can fly for up to 24 hours with a payload of up to 661 pounds (300 kg).

Iranian missiles

According to the IDF, Iran launched 30 cruise missiles, 25 of which were intercepted outside Israel’s borders.

Israel’s Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari claimed that “dozens of rockets” were then launched from Lebanon, striking the Nevatim Air Base. However, these could only cause “minor” damage to the infrastructure.

The US Office of the Director of National Intelligence has previously maintained that Tehran is armed with the largest number of ballistic missiles in the region.

Iran has nearly nine missiles capable of reaching Israel, according to the news outlet ISNA .

These include the ‘Sejil,’ capable of flying at more than 10,500 miles (17,000 km) per hour with a range of 1,550 miles (2,500 km), the ‘Kheibar’ with a range of 1,240 miles (2,000 km), and the ‘Haj Qasem,’ which has a range of 870 miles(1,400 km) and is named after Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani. Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad four years ago, reported The Times of Israel citing ISNA .

Iran also has the Kh-55, a cruise missile with a range of up to 1,860 miles (3,000 km). The country also developed an advanced anti-ship missile, the Khalid Farzh, with a 186 miles (300 km) range and a 1.1-ton (1,000-kg) warhead.

According to the Washington-based nongovernmental organization Arms Control Association, Iran’s missile program is largely based on North Korean and Russian designs. The country has also received Chinese assistance to develop the weapon.

In June 2023, Iran demonstrated its first domestically made hypersonic ballistic missile. These missiles can fly at least five times faster than the speed of sound and are difficult to intercept.

Israel’s multilayered air defense system

Israel’s air defense system comprises the Arrow, David’s Sling, Patriot, Iron Dome, and Iron Beam systems. Developed with the US, The Arrow is capable of intercepting long-range missiles, including the types of ballistic missiles. Meanwhile, the David’s Sling intercepts medium-range missiles .

Israel also uses the US-made Patriot system to shoot down enemy aircraft, including drones. But the gem in Israel’s defensive arsenal, arguably, is the Iron Dome, used to shoot down short-range rockets. Developed by Israel with US backing, the Iron Dome has intercepted thousands of rockets since its activation early last decade.

Israel’s Iron Beam— a directed-energy weapon air defense system not operational yet— will intercept incoming threats with laser technology.

Inside Iran’s drone arsenal: From ‘Gaza’ to hypersonic missiles

Iran’s powerful missile and drone arsenal

Tehran has just over 3,000 ballistic missiles, according to a u.s. estimate. nine models of these projectiles have the capacity to reach israeli territory.

Misiles iraníes expuestos en una plaza de Teherán

Iran has one of the largest missile arsenals in the Middle East, with more than 3,000 ballistic missiles, according to an estimate released in 2022 by the U.S. Central Command. In the last decade, the country has significantly improved the precision of its missiles that have been considered a threat by the West for years. The Iranian weaponry is conventional. The country does not yet have nuclear weapons, but several of its missiles could carry a nuclear payload if Iran were to develop that type of weaponry.

According to the Arms Control Association, an American non-governmental organization based in Washington, cited by the Israeli newspaper The Times of Israel , Iranian missiles are largely based on North Korean and Russian designs, and perfected with Chinese technology. These missiles are mainly short and medium range.

In the last decade, Tehran has also become a major producer and exporter of drones. According to the U.S. Institute for Peace, Iran has manufactured thousands of advanced surveillance, reconnaissance and combat drones. What’s more, Iranian drones have become one of the greatest assets of the so-called Axis of Resistance (Iran, Hezbollah, the Houthis of Yemen and the pro-Iranian militias of Iraq and Syria) and Russia has frequently used them in its attacks against Ukraine.

Among short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, models such as the Sejjil stand out, a medium-range ballistic missile developed in part with Iranian technology, which is capable of carrying a payload of around 700 kilograms and reaching a target up to 1,550 miles (2,500 kilometers) away. The distance between Tehran and Tel Aviv is just under 1,240 miles (2,000 kilometers). Another missile with a somewhat shorter range, the Kheibar, has a maximum range of 1,240 miles. Manufactured by the Ministry of Defense of the Islamic Republic of Iran, it can carry a 1,500-kilo payload, while the Haj Qasem missile can hit a target up to 870 miles (1,400 kilometers) away.

In total, it is estimated that Iran has nine types of missiles with enough range to reach Israeli territory. Additionally, last June, Iranian authorities unveiled what the country’s regime described as its first domestically-made hypersonic ballistic missile , according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. Hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times faster than the speed of sound and follow a complex trajectory, making it difficult for them to be intercepted by air defense systems.

In recent months, Iran has used these missiles against Israeli interests and insurgencies hostile to its regime in several countries in the region. On January 16, the Revolutionary Guard claimed to have attacked the Israeli spy headquarters in Iraqi Kurdistan with this weapon. A day earlier, Iran had launched missiles and drones against the bases of the Baloch insurgency in the Pakistani province of Balochistan. Pakistan’s government condemned the attack, accusing Iran of killing two children and calling it an “unprovoked violation” of its airspace.

When a cruise missile and drone attack hit Saudi oil company Aramco’s facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais in eastern Saudi Arabia on September 14, 2019, neither Saudi Arabia nor the United States believed that Yemen’s Houthi militants were the real perpetrators. They did not have the weapons, technology or intelligence information to carry out an attack of that magnitude. Both countries believed that the main supporter of the Yemeni rebels was behind the attack: Iran.

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This photo taken on April 14, 2024 shows flares from explosions in the sky over Tel Aviv as Israel's anti-missile system intercepts missiles and drones from Iran.

Israel says it intercepted with its allies 99% of the more than 300 drones and missiles launched by Iran

A group of Iranians celebrate the attack on Israel in front of the United Kingdom Embassy in Tehran, this Sunday morning.

Iran: Chronicle of an attack foretold

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Israel's war cabinet, chaired by Benjamin Netanyahu, meets in Tel Aviv to discuss the drone attack launched by Iran.

Iran missile and drone attack on Israel – what we know so far

Israel’s military has reported minor damage after Iran launched dozens of drones and missiles towards it late on Saturday

Iran attack on Israel – live updates
Full report: Iran launches drones and cruise missiles against Israel

Iran launched hundreds of drones as well as cruise missiles towards Israel , in the Islamic Republic’s first ever direct attack on the Jewish state, in response to the 1 April strike on an Iranian diplomatic building in the Syrian capital, Damascus, which killed a senior figure in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards and eight other officers.

Benny Gantz, a member of the war cabinet, said that Israel will exact a price from Iran in response to its mass missile and drone attack when the time is right. His comments came ahead of a war cabinet meeting alongside Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the country’s defence minister, Yoav Gallant.

Tehran has warned it will strike again with greater force if Israel or the US retaliate for the Iranian strike on Israel by more 300 drones and missiles on Saturday night. The air raids , the Islamic Republic’s first ever direct attack on the Israeli state, brought a years-long shadow war into the open and threatened to draw the region into a broader conflagration as Israel said it was considering its response.

However, the attack, mostly launched from inside Iran, caused only modest damage in Israel as most were shot down with the help of the US, Britain and Jordan. An air force base in southern Israel was hit, but continued to operate as normal and a seven-year-old child was seriously hurt by shrapnel. There were no other reports of serious damage. Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said that 99% of the launches had been intercepted.

Most of the Iranian drones flying over Syria’s airspace during Tehran’s strikes overnight were downed by Israeli and US jets before reaching their targets in Israel, two western intelligence sources told Reuters .

The UN security council will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday at the request of Israel’s ambassador to the UN, the council’s president said in a statement.

Iran informed Turkey in advance of its planned operation against Israel, a Turkish diplomatic source has told Reuters . The source also said that the US conveyed to Iran via Ankara that its operation must be “within certain limits”. These reports come after Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian , said in a meeting with foreign ambassadors in Tehran that Iran had informed the US that its attacks against Israel will be “limited” and for self-defence only.

John Kirby, the White House’s top national security spokesperson, told ABC’s This Week programme on Sunday that the US will continue to help Israel defend itself, but does not want war with Iran. “We don’t seek escalated tensions in the region. We don’t seek a wider conflict,” Kirby said. News outlet Axios reported that Joe Biden , the US president, had told Netanyahu that he would oppose an Israeli counterattack against Iran and that the prime minister should “take the win”.

UK Royal Air Force fighter jets and refuelling aircraft were also involved in Israel’s defence, taking off from bases in Cyprus. Their role, according to the UK Ministry of Defence, was to fill in for the US air force in the sorties against Islamic State normally carried out over Iraq and north-eastern Syria, but also to intercept Iranian drones if they came into the UK area of operations.

World leaders have condemned Iran’s attack, with regional powers including Saudi Arabia and Egypt calling for restraint. The UN secretary general, António Guterres, said: “I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation. I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East.”

Explosions seen over Israel and West Bank after Iran launches drones and missiles – video

Jordan’s prime minister, Bisher Khasawneh , warned that any escalation in the region would lead to “dangerous paths”, joining a chorus of condemnation from world leaders to the attack. Other countries including the UK, Spain, the US, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and China, have called for restraint amid fears of a regional escalation of conflict across the Middle East. Iran’s foreign ministry has summoned the ambassadors of the UK , France , and Germany to question what it referred to as their “irresponsible stance” regarding Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel, the semi-official Iranian Labour news agency reported .

Major airlines across the Middle East, including Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways , announced they would resume some of their operations in the region after cancelling or rerouting some flights in response to Iran’s attack on Israel. Israel said it had reopened its airspace as of 7:30am local time on Sunday morning, with Beirut airport also reopening this morning. Several Iranian airports, including Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International, however, have cancelled flights until Monday.

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US military

A look at Iran’s missile capabilities amid attack on Israel

According to the u.s. office of the director of national intelligence, iran is armed with the largest number of ballistic missiles in the region..

Iran on Saturday launched missiles and explosive drones at Israel in retaliation for a strike on its Syrian embassy, drawing on an array of weapons that has long worried the West.

Ballistic missiles are an important part of the arsenal at Tehran’s disposal. According to the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Iran is armed with the largest number of ballistic missiles in the region.

Here are some details:

* The semi-official Iranian news outlet ISNA published a graphic this week showing nine Iranian missiles it said could reach Israel. These included the ‘Sejil’, capable of flying at more than 17,000 km (10,500 miles) per hour and with a range of 2,500 km (1,550 miles), the ‘Kheibar’ with a range of 2,000 km (1,240 miles), and the ‘Haj Qasem’, which has a range of 1,400 km (870 miles) and is named after Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad four years ago, ISNA said.

* Iran, a major producer of drones, said in August it had built an advanced homemade drone named Mohajer-10 with an operational range of 2,000 km (1,240 miles) and capable of flying for up to 24 hours with a payload of up to 300 kg (660 pounds).

* Iran says its ballistic missiles are an important deterrent and retaliatory force against the United States, Israel and other potential regional targets. It denies seeking nuclear weapons.

* Last June, Iran presented what officials described as its first domestically made hypersonic ballistic missile, the official IRNA news agency reported. Hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times faster than the speed of sound and on a complex trajectory, which makes them difficult to intercept.

* Despite U.S. and European opposition, the Islamic Republic has said it will further develop its defensive missile programme.

* The Arms Control Association, a Washington-based nongovernmental organization, says Iran’s missile programme is largely based on North Korean and Russian designs and has benefited from Chinese assistance.

* The Arms Control Association says Iran’s short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles include Shahab-1, with an estimated range of 300 km (190 miles), the Zolfaghar, with 700 km (435 miles); Shahab-3, with 800-1,000 km (500 to 620 miles), Emad-1, a missile under development with up to 2,000 km (1,240 miles) and Sejil, under development, with 1,500-2,500 km (930 to 1,550 miles).

* Iran also has cruise missiles such as Kh-55, an air-launched nuclear-capable weapon with a range of up to 3,000 km (1,860 miles), and the advanced anti-ship missile the Khalid Farzh, with about 300 km (186 miles), capable of carrying a 1,000-kg (1.1-ton) warhead.

REGIONAL ATTACKS

* Iran’s Revolutionary Guards drew on the missiles in January when they said they attacked the spy headquarters of Israel in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, and said they fired at Islamic State militants in Syria. Iran also announced firing missiles at two bases of a Baluchi militant group in neighbouring Pakistan.

* Saudi Arabia and the United States have said they believe Iran was behind a drone and missile attack on Saudi Arabia’s prized oil facilities in 2019. Tehran denied the allegation.

* In 2020, Iran launched missile attacks on U.S.-led forces in Iraq, including the al-Asad air base, in retaliation for a U.S. drone strike on Iranian commander Soleimani, whose killing raised fears of a wider Middle East conflict.

BACKING FOR YEMEN’S HOUTHIS

* The United States accuses Iran of arming the Houthis of Yemen, who have been firing on Red Sea shipping and Israel itself during the Gaza war, in a campaign they say is aimed at supporting the Palestinians. Tehran denies arming the Houthis. * In 2022, the Houthis said they fired a number of ballistic missiles and drones at the United Arab Emirates. This included a missile attack targeting a base hosting the U.S. military in the UAE, which was thwarted by U.S.-built Patriot interceptor missiles.

SUPPORT FOR HEZBOLLAH

* The leader of Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah group has said the group has the ability within Lebanon to convert thousands of rockets into precision missiles and to produce drones. * Last year, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the group was able to transform standard rockets into precision missiles with the cooperation of “experts from the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

* Iran has transferred indigenous precision-guided missiles to Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad’s fight against insurgents, according to Israeli and Western intelligence officials. * It has also moved some of its production capacity to underground compounds in Syria, where Assad’s military and other pro-Tehran forces have learned to build their own missiles, those same sources say.

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Difference between Ballistic Missile and Cruise Missile
Difference Between Ballistic Missiles and Cruise Missiles
Difference Between Ballistic & Cruise Missile
Difference between cruise and ballistic missile
Key characteristics of ballistic and cruise missiles
Cruise Missile vs Ballistic Missile

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Cruise vs ballistic missile
Cruise and Ballistic Missiles, Do you Know What's the Difference? #shorts #information #history
What are the Differences between a Ballistic Missile and a Cruise Missile?
Why Pakistan chose TFX over J-35?
Why is it difficult to shoot down a cruise missile?
Difference Between Ballistic & Cruise Missile

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The Simple Difference Between Ballistic Missiles and Cruise Missiles
Ballistic missiles are different than cruise missiles. Cruise missiles are self-propelled for the majority of their time in the air, flying in a relatively straight line and at lower altitudes thanks to a rocket propellant. Think of a ballistic missile's flight path as a large arc up and back down again, while that of a cruise missile — fired ...
Ballistic Missile vs. Cruise Missile, India's Missile Systems, IGMDP
Medium-range (theatre) ballistic missile (MRBM): 1,000 km to 3,500 km. Intermediate-range (Long-Range) ballistic missile (IRBM or LRBM): 3,500 km and 5,500 km. Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM): 5,500 km + Cruise missile. A cruise missile is a guided missile (target has to be pre-set) used against terrestrial targets.
Difference between ballistic missile and cruise missile
This missile is self-propelled till the end of its flight. This missile is similar to a rocket engine. The cruise missile shares similarity with a jet engine. Long-range ballistic missiles leave ...
Fact Sheet: Ballistic vs. Cruise Missiles
Ballistic missiles have three stages of flight: Boost Phase begins at launch and lasts until the rocket engine (s) stops firing and the missile begins unpowered flight. Depending on the missile, boost phase can last three to five minutes. Most of this phase takes place in the atmosphere. Midcourse Phase begins after the rocket (s) stops firing.
Cruise missiles vs Ballistic missiles
A cruise missile either locates its target or has a preset target. It navigates using a guidance system — such as inertial or beyond visual range satellite GPS guidance — and comprises a payload and aircraft propulsion system.Cruise missiles can be launched from land, sea or air for land attacks and anti-shipping purposes, and can travel at subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic speeds.Since ...
India's missile systems
Difference between ballistic and cruise missile. Understanding these terminologies ballistic and cruise is crucial to comprehend the various Indian missile defence systems. Ballistic missile. Using a ballistic trajectory, a ballistic missile strikes a predefined target with one or more warheads.
Understanding Cruise and Ballistic Missiles
Difference between Ballistic and Cruise MissileIn this video lecture, Mr. Deepak Dutt Mamgain, a well known General Studies Faculty for UPSC, PCS, SSC and Ba...
Cruise Missiles vs. Ballistic Missiles: Compare Their Differences
Cruise Missiles vs Ballistic Missiles. General Studies- Paper III, UPSC Examination. Tap For Tech. A Cruise Missile is a guided missile that flies with constant speed to deliver a warhead at specified target over long distance with high accuracy. A Ballistic Missile is lift off directly into the high layers of the earth's atmosphere.
Missile System of India: Cruise & Ballistic Missile
A cruise missile is guided towards a preset land-based target using a navigation system. A ballistic missile is generally a projectile shot up in the atmosphere. Cruise missiles are known for low altitude flight and high mobility and hence the name. Easy to intercept because of high terminal speeds. Expensive and thus suitable for firing ...
Difference Between Ballistic & Cruise Missile
Enrol to StudyIQ's Flagship UPSC IAS (Pre + Mains) LIVE Foundation Batch 9. Admissions closing on 10 DEC'22 | Enrol now - https://bit.ly/upscbatch9A time-te...
Ballistic Missile vs Cruise Missile
In this session, Gaurav Shukla will be going through the difference between Ballistic Missile and a Cruise Missile. Students are requested to watch the entir...
Types of Missiles in India
BrahMos Missile: BrahMos is the fastest supersonic missile of the world. It is a Mach 3 "fire-and-forget" missile, inducted in all three services of the Indian Armed Forces. Its variants include land, ship, submarine, and air-launched missiles. BrahMos II, the hypersonic cruise missile, is currently in the developing phase.
India's Ballistic Missile Defence System: Why should we ...
India's BMD is primarily developed by DRDO with the help of many public and private firms like BEL, Astra Microwave, L&T, etc. India's BMD is being developed in 2 phases: The first phase aims to develop a shield to intercept missiles with a range of up to 2000 km. 1st phase radar range is up to 600 km. The second phase will have an ...
India's Missile Defence Systems
They are a mix of the speed of a ballistic missile and maneouvering capabilities of a cruise missile; While cruise missiles achieve speeds of 550 mile per hour, the hypersonic missiles aircrafts can reach speeds more than 3500 miles per hour. Capable of penetrating any antimissile defence system currently available that are designed to ...
Difference Between Cruise and Ballistic Missiles
Check Difference between Cruise and Ballistic Missiles. Cruise missiles are guided, jet or propeller-driven projectiles that can fly at low altitudes, follow a flexible path, and are capable of precision strikes. Ballistic missiles, on the other hand, are unguided, rocket-powered weapons that follow a high, arching trajectory before descending ...
Ballistic Vs Cruise Missiles
Ballistic missiles are powered initially by a rocket or series of rockets in stages (first stage), but then follow an unpowered (without fuel) curved trajectory mostly above the atmosphere (second stage) before descending to reach its intended target (third stage).Thus, Ballistic missiles have three stages of flight. A ballistic missile is only guided during the initial short boost phase, but ...
Ballistic Missiles
Difference Between Ballistic Missiles and Cruise Missiles. Unlike the long arcing trajectory of a ballistic missile, a cruise missile travels at lower altitudes and on far straighter trajectories. ... I mastered the art of clearing UPSC CSE Prelims and in the process devised an unbeatable strategy to ace Prelims which many students struggle to do.
What are the Differences between a Ballistic Missile and a Cruise
They can be launched from ground, airplane, and sea platforms like submarines and surface warships. They tend to have shorter ranges than ballistic missiles. Unlike ballistic missiles, cruise missiles are usually categorized by intended missions and launch mode instead of maximum range. The two broadest categories are land attack cruise ...
How are cruise missiles different from ballistic missiles?
Difference between cruise and ballistic missiles. There are some important differences between cruise and ballistic missiles. These are: Ballistic missiles follow an arc-like trajectory and are launched from the land or sea; They usually carry a nuclear warhead and are very heavy; They rely on Earth's gravity to fly down once launched
Difference Between Ballistic And Cruise Missile With Examples
Fastest cruise missile in the world in its category. The Brahmos missile speed is Mach 2.8 and has a range of 290 kilometres, or approximately three times the speed of sound. The Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers in Russia inspired the its name, which was jointly developed with Russia. Difference Between Ballistic And Cruise Missile
Difference Between Ballistic Missiles And Cruise Missiles
Due to its extremely high speed and high trajectory, ballistic missiles are extremely difficult to intercept. However, this type of missile is very easy to detect immediately after launch. The second type of missile is more modern and also much more accurate, the cruise missile. Cruise missiles typically have a shorter range than long-range ...
Crusie Missiles vs. Ballistic Missiles: What's the Difference?
In the interest of brevity, you can really sum up the difference between these types of weapons with the trajectory that they follow. A ballistic missile follows a "ballistic flight path," which often includes traveling along a long arc, whereas a cruise missile tends to follow a straighter, lower altitude trajectory.
Role of Ballistic and Cruise Missiles in International Security
Use of ballistic missiles including Kinzhal missile, to attack Ukrainian infrastructure, Footnote 13 defied the archaic notion that ballistic missiles are only meant for deterrence purpose. States could hence use missile systems during war times between states or even as a weapon for counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency.
Agni-5 Ballistic Missile
Agni-IV is a nuclear-capable long-range ballistic missile of India, with a strike range of 4,000 km. The indigenously developed Agni-IV is a two-stage surface-to-surface missile. It is 20 metres long with a weight of 17 tonnes. Hence, statement 1 is correct. It is a two stage solid fuelled system that can carry a one-tonne nuclear warhead over ...
Iran Unleashes Sophisticated Missiles; Israel Counters with Cutting
"These missiles go very fast, seven times the speed of sound," he said. Pinko adds that the difference between cruise and ballistic missiles is that while the cruise missile goes in a straight path, the ballistic missile leaves the atmosphere and then goes back inside. Ballistic missiles, he explained, come from above at an 80-degree angle.
Cost and benefit: Israel's very expensive defence against aerial
Table 1: The difference between cruise and ballistic missiles: Cruise missiles: Ballistic missiles: Operation: Powered throughout flight, manoeuvrable Powered only in the first phase of flight, not manoeuvrable: Range: Typically 1,000 km, can be as much as 4000 km: From <1,000 km to >10,000 km, missiles are classified according to range ...
Inside Iran's drone arsenal: From 'Gaza' to hypersonic missiles
Iran also has the Kh-55, a cruise missile with a range of up to 1,860 miles (3,000 km). The country also developed an advanced anti-ship missile, the Khalid Farzh, with a 186 miles (300 km) range ...
Iran's powerful missile and drone arsenal
Iran has one of the largest missile arsenals in the Middle East, with more than 3,000 ballistic missiles, according to an estimate released in 2022 by the U.S. Central Command. In the last decade, the country has significantly improved the precision of its missiles that have been considered a threat by the West for years. The Iranian weaponry is conventional.
Iran missile and drone attack on Israel
Iran launched hundreds of drones as well as cruise missiles towards Israel, in the Islamic Republic's first ever direct attack on the Jewish state, in response to the 1 April strike on an ...
A look at Iran's missile capabilities amid attack on Israel
Iran on Saturday launched missiles and explosive drones at Israel in retaliation for a strike on its Syrian embassy, drawing on an array of weapons that has long worried the West. Ballistic missiles are an important part of the arsenal at Tehran's disposal. According to the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Iran is armed ...

The Simple Difference Between Ballistic Missiles and Cruise Missiles

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Ballistic Missile vs. Cruise Missile, India’s Missile Systems, IGMDP

Ballistic Missile vs. Cruise Missile

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