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Classification of Missile Missile History
Classification
Missiles are generally classified on the basis of their Type, Launch Mode, Range, Propulsion, Warhead
and Guidance Systems. IGMDP
Type:
BRAHMOS Missile
Cruise Missile
Ballistic Missile
Launch Mode:
Gallery
Surface-to-Surface Missile
Surface-to-Air Missile
Surface (Coast)-to-Sea Missile
Air-to-Air Missile
Air-to-Surface Missile
Sea-to-Sea Missile
Sea-to-Surface (Coast) Missile
BRAHMOS Launches
Anti-Tank Missile
Range:
Short Range Missile
Medium Range Missile
Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile Latest News
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Eastern Command Unit Test-
Propulsion: Fired BRAHMOS Missile from
Solid Propulsion Car Nicobar Islands
Liquid Propulsion May 24, 2019
Hybrid Propulsion
Ramjet Successful firing of
Scramjet BRAHMOS Air Launched
Cryogenic Missile from Su-30MKI
Warhead: Aircraft
May 22, 2019
Conventional
Strategic
Russian Ministry of Defence
Guidance Systems:
honours Praveen Pathak,
Wire Guidance CGM (Mkt. Prom. & Export)
Command Guidance of BrahMos
Terrain Comparison Guidance February 21, 2019
Terrestrial Guidance
Inertial Guidance Cinega Satish Kumar of
Beam Rider Guidance BrahMos honoured with
Laser Guidance Prime Minister's Shram Vir
RF and GPS Reference Award
December 27, 2018
On the basis of Type: Successful Test Firing of
BRAHMOS to Validate
(i) Cruise Missile: A cruise missile is an unmanned self-propelled (till the time of impact) guided Service Life Extension
vehicle that sustains flight through aerodynamic lift for most of its flight path and whose primary July 16, 2018
mission is to place an ordnance or special payload on a target. They fly within the earth’s
atmosphere and use jet engine technology. These vehicles vary greatly in their speed and ability
to penetrate defences.Cruise missiles can be
categorised by size, speed (subsonic or supersonic),
range and whether launched from land, air, surface ship
or submarine.
Depending upon the speed such missiles are classified as:
1) Subsonic cruise missile
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2) Supersonic cruise missile
3) Hypersonic cruise missile
Subsonic cruise missile flies at a speed lesser than
that of sound. It travels at a speed of around 0.8 Mach.
The well-known subsonic missile is the American
Tomahawk cruise missile. Some other examples are
Harpoon of USA and Exocet of France.
Supersonic cruise missile travels at a speed of around
2-3 Mach i.e.; it travels a kilometre approximately in a
second. The modular design of the missile and its
capability of being launched at different orientations
enable it to be integrated with a wide spectrum of
platforms like warships, submarines, different types of
aircraft, mobile autonomous launchers and silos. The
combination of supersonic speed and warhead mass
provides high kinetic energy ensuring tremendous lethal
effect. BRAHMOS is the only known versatile supersonic
cruise missile system which is in service.
Hypersonic cruise missile travels at a speed of more than 5 Mach. Many countries are working
to develop hypersonic cruise missiles. BrahMos Aerospace is also in the process of developing a
hypersonic cruise missile, BRAHMOS-II, which would fly at a speed greater than 5 Mach.
(ii) Ballistic Missile: A ballistic missile is a missile that has a ballistic trajectory over most of its
flight path, regardless of whether or not it is a weapon-delivery vehicle. Ballistic missiles are
categorised according to their range, maximum distance measured along the surface of earth's
ellipsoid from the point of launch to the point of impact of the last element of their payload. The
missile carry a huge payload. The carriage of a deadly warhead is justified by the distance the
missile travels. Ballistic missiles can be launched from ships and land based facilities. For
example, Prithvi I, Prithvi II, Agni I, Agni II and Dhanush ballistic missiles are currently
operational in the Indian defence forces.
On the basis of Launch Mode:
(i) Surface-to-Surface Missile: A surface-to-surface missile is a guided projectile launched from
a hand-held, vehicle mounted, trailer mounted or fixed installation. It is often powered by a rocket
motor or sometimes fired by an explosive charge since the launch platform is stationary.
(ii) Surface-to-Air Missile: A surface-to-air missile is designed for launch from the ground to
destroy aerial targets like aircrafts, helicopters and even ballistic missiles. These missiles are
generally called air defence systems as they defend any aerial attacks by the enemy.
(iii) Surface (Coast)-to-Sea Missile: A surface (coast)-to-sea missile is designed to be
launched from land to ship in the sea as targets.
(iv) Air-to-Air Missile: An air-to-air missile is launched from an aircraft to destroy the enemy
aircraft. The missile flies at a speed of 4 Mach.
(v) Air-to-Surface Missile: An air-to-surface missile is designed for launch from military aircraft
and strikes ground targets on land, at sea or both. The missiles are basically guided via laser
guidance, infrared guidance and optical guidance or via GPS signals. The type of guidance
depends on the type of target.
(vi) Sea-to-Sea Missile: A sea-to-sea missile is designed for launch from one ship to another
ship.
(vii) Sea-to-Surface (Coast) Missile: A sea-to-surface missile is designed for launch from ship
to land based targets.
(viii) Anti-Tank Missile: An anti-tank missile is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and
destroy heavily-armoured tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles. Anti-tank missiles could be
launched from aircraft, helicopters, tanks and also from shoulder mounted launcher.
On the basis of Range:
This type of classification is based on maximum range achieved by the missiles. The basic
classification is as follows:
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(i) Short Range Missile
(ii) Medium Range Missile
(iii) Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile
(iv) Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
On the basis of Propulsion:
(i) Solid Propulsion: Solid fuel is used in solid propulsion. Generally, the fuel is aluminium
powder. Solid propulsion has the advantage of being easily stored and can be handled in fuelled
condition. It can reach very high speeds quickly. Its simplicity also makes it a good choice
whenever large amount of thrust is needed.
(ii) Liquid Propulsion: The liquid propulsion technology uses liquid as fuel. The fuels are
hydrocarbons. The storage of missile with liquid fuel is difficult and complex. In addition,
preparation of missile takes considerable time. In liquid propulsion, propulsion can be controlled
easily by restricting the fuel flow by using valves and it can also be controlled even under
emergency conditions. Basically, liquid fuel gives high specific impulse as compared to solid fuel.
(ii) Hybrid Propulsion: There are two stages in hybrid propulsion - solid propulsion and liquid
propulsion. This kind of propulsion compensates the disadvantages of both propulsion systems
and has the combined advantages of the two propulsion systems.
(iii) Ramjet: A ramjet engine does not have any turbines unlike turbojet engines. It achieves
compression of intake air just by the forward speed of the air vehicle. The fuel is injected and
ignited. The expansion of hot gases after fuel injection and combustion accelerates the exhaust
air to a velocity higher than that at the inlet and creates positive push. However, the air entering
the engine should be at supersonic speeds. So, the aerial vehicle must be moving in supersonic
speeds. Ramjet engines cannot propel an aerial vehicle from zero to supersonic speeds.
(iv) Scramjet: Scramjet is an acronym for Supersonic Combustion Ramjet. The difference
between scramjet and ramjet is that the combustion takes place at supersonic air velocities
through the engine. It is mechanically simple, but vastly more complex aerodynamically than a jet
engine. Hydrogen is normally the fuel used.
(v) Cryogenic: Cryogenic propellants are liquefied gases stored at very low temperatures, most
frequently liquid hydrogen as the fuel and liquid oxygen as the oxidizer. Cryogenic propellants
require special insulated containers and vents which allow gas to escape from the evaporating
liquids. The liquid fuel and oxidizer are pumped from the storage tanks to an expansion chamber
and injected into the combustion chamber where they are mixed and ignited by a flame or spark.
The fuel expands as it burns and the hot exhaust gases are directed out of the nozzle to provide
thrust.
On the basis of Warhead:
(i) Conventional Warhead: A conventional warhead contains high energy explosives. It is filled
with a chemi al explosive and relies on the detonation of the explosive and the resulting metal
casing fragmentation as kill mechanisms.
(ii) Strategic Warhead: In a strategic warhead, radio active materials are present and when
triggered they exhibit huge radio activity that can wipe out even cities. They are generally
designed for mass annihilation.
On the basis of Guidance Systems :
(i) Wire Guidance: This system is broadly similar to radio command, but is less susceptible to
electronic counter measures. The command signals are passed along a wire (or wires)
dispensed from the missile after launch.
(ii) Command Guidance: Command guidance involves tracking the projectile from the launch
site or platform and transmitting commands by radio, radar, or laser impulses or along thin wires
or optical fibres. Tracking might be accomplished by radar or optical instruments from the launch
site or by radar or television imagery relayed from the missile.
(iii) Terrain Comparison Guidance: Terrain Comparison (TERCOM) is used invariably by cruise
missiles. The system uses sensitive altimeters to measure the profile of the ground directly below
and checks the result against stored information.
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(iv) Terrestrial Guidance: This system constantly measures star angles and compares them
with the pre-programmed angles expected on the missile’s intended trajectory. The guidance
system directs the control system whenever an alteration to trajectory is required.
(v) Inertial Guidance: This system is totally contained within the missile and is programmed
prior to launch. Three accelerometers, mounted on a platform space-stabilised by gyros,
measure accelerations along three mutually perpendicular axes; these accelerations are then
integrated twice, the first integration giving velocity and the second giving position. The system
then directs the control system to preserve the pre-programmed trajectory. This systems are
used in the surface-to-surface missiles and in cruise missiles.
(vi) Beam Rider Guidance: The beam rider concept relies on an external ground or ship-based
radar station that transmits a beam of radar energy towards the target. The surface radar tracks
the target and also transmits a guidance beam that adjusts its angle as the target moves across
the sky.
(vii) Laser Guidance: In laser guidance, a laser beam is focused on the target and the laser
beam reflects off the target and gets scattered. The missile has a laser seeker that can detect
even miniscule amount of radiation. The seeker provides the direction of the laser scatters to the
guidance system. The missile is launched towards the target, the seeker looks out for the laser
reflections and the guidance system steers the missile towards the source of laser reflections
that is ultimately the target.
(viii) RF and GPS Reference: RF (Radio Frequency) and GPS (Global Positioning System) are
examples of technologies that are used in missile guidance systems. A missile uses GPS signal
to determine the location of the target. Over the course of its flight, the weapon uses this
information to send commands to control surfaces and adjusts its trajectory. In a RF reference,
the missile uses RF waves to locate the target.
"The traditional partnership between India & Russia has been tested by the time and time and it is the most important
stabilizing factor, not only for the asian region, but for the whole world" - Vladimir Putin
CEO & MD DESK PRESS RELEASES HYPERSONIC BRAHMOS MISSILE
My priorities will be indigenisation Eastern Command Unit Test-Fired BRAHMOS
of missile development in India, Missile from Car Nicobar Islands
capacity building for larger
Successful firing of BRAHMOS Air Launched
production, meeting the
Missile from Su-30MKI Aircraft
production orders ahead of
schedule to ensure delivery of Russian Ministry of Defence honours Praveen
missiles on time and to ensure different versions Pathak, CGM (Mkt. Prom. & Export) of
of BRAHMOS missiles to meet the aspirations BrahMos
and requirements of the defence force including Cinega Satish Kumar of BrahMos honoured
Army, Navy & Air Force. with Prime Minister's Shram Vir Award
Dr Sudhir Kumar Mishra Successful Test Firing of BRAHMOS to
CEO & MD, BrahMos Aerospace, Validate Service Life Extension
Distinguished Scientist & Director General BRAHMOS Extended Range (ER) missile
(BrahMos), DRDO successfully test-fired
✉ skmishra@brahmos.com
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