What are Cruise and Ballistic Missiles & Differences Between Them

Difference Between a Cruise Missile and a Ballistic Missile

Cruise missiles and ballistic missiles are both powerful weapons, but they take very different approaches to reaching their targets. Here’s a breakdown of each and how they compare:

Cruise Missiles

• Flight: Powered throughout by a jet engine, similar to an airplane. This allows for long-range and maneuverability, following the contours of the terrain to avoid detection by radar.
• Speed: Can be subsonic (slower than sound), supersonic (faster than sound), or even hypersonic (extremely high speeds).
• Launch platform: Can be launched from ground vehicles, ships, submarines, or even airplanes.
• Warhead: Carries a variety of warheads, including conventional explosives or even non-lethal payloads.

Types of Cruise Missiles

Cruise missiles are classified based on their launch platform, range, and speed.

• Launch Platform:
  • Air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) are launched from airplanes. They can be launched from strategic bombers or fighter jets.
  • Ground-launched cruise missiles (GLCMs) are launched from mobile launchers or fixed installations on land.
  • Sea-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs) are launched from surface ships or submarines.
• Range:
  • Short-range cruise missiles (SRCMs) have a range of less than 300 kilometers (186 miles).
  • Medium-range cruise missiles (MRCMs) have a range of 300 to 1,000 kilometers (186 to 621 miles).
  • Long-range cruise missiles (LRCMs) have a range of more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).
• Speed:
  • Subsonic cruise missiles fly slower than the speed of sound (Mach 1).
  • Supersonic cruise missiles fly faster than the speed of sound (Mach 1 to 5).
  • Hypersonic cruise missiles fly at extremely high speeds, exceeding Mach 5.

Indian Cruise Missiles

• BrahMos: A supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia. It can be launched from land, sea, and air platforms and has a range of around 290 kilometers.
• Nirbhay: A subsonic cruise missile developed by India. It has a range of around 1,000 kilometers and can be launched from land or sea platforms.

Ballistic Missiles

• Flight: Powered by a rocket only during launch, then follows a high, arcing trajectory under the influence of gravity. Think of throwing a rock really high in the air – that’s the basic idea.
• Speed: Extremely fast, especially during re-entry into the atmosphere.
• Launch Platform: Typically launched from fixed or mobile ground installations.
• Warhead: Primarily designed for large, conventional, or nuclear warheads.

Types of Ballistic Missiles

Ballistic missiles are classified based on their range.

• Short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs): These missiles have a range of less than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles). They are typically used for tactical strikes on the battlefield.
• Medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs): These missiles have a range of 1,000 to 3,500 kilometers (621 to 2,175 miles). They can be used for both tactical and theater-level strikes.
• Intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs): These missiles have a range of 3,500 to 5,500 kilometers (2,175 to 3,418 miles). They are no longer produced due to international treaties, but some countries still have them in their arsenals.
• Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs): These missiles have a range of more than 5,500 kilometers (3,418 miles) and are capable of striking targets across continents.

Indian Ballistic Missiles

• Prithvi: A series of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) developed by India. The Prithvi-I, II, and III have ranges of up to 350 kilometers.
• Prahar: It is a short-range, solid propellant, a road-mobile ballistic missile designed for tactical strikes against close-range targets. Prahaar Development India began developing the Prahaar to replace its shorter-range Prithvi-1.
• Dhanush: A land-mobile, single-stage, liquid-fueled ballistic missile derived from the Prithvi-III missile and designed for use against naval targets. It has a range of up to 350 kilometers.
• Agni: A series of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) developed by India. The Agni-I, II, III, IV, and V have ranges that vary depending on the specific variant but can reach up to 5,000 kilometers.

Key Differences Between Cruise Missiles and Ballistic Missiles

Here’s a quick comparison to highlight the key differences:

Feature	Cruise Missile	Ballistic Missile
Flight Path	Low-flying, maneuverable	High, arcing trajectory
Propulsion	Jet engine throughout the flight	Rocket in the launch phase, then ballistic
Speed	Subsonic, supersonic, or hypersonic	Extremely high, especially during re-entry
Launch Platform	Ground, sea, air	Primarily ground-based
Warhead	Conventional or non-lethal	Conventional or nuclear

Conclusion – Cruise Missiles and Ballistic Missiles Differences

• Cruise missiles are like jet-powered airplanes that deliver a precise punch.
• Ballistic missiles are like super-fast, high-altitude rockets designed for maximum destructive power.

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FAQs – Differences Between a Cruise Missile and a Ballistic Missile