Long-range missiles

Extracted Attributes

• Definition

  Self-propelled, airborne weapon guided towards specific targets.

• Distinction

  Differentiated from unguided rocket artillery, shells, or bombs by being guided and self-propelled.

• Apogee (ICBM)

  About 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) during free-flight.

• Primary Payload

  Nuclear weapons (due to cost-effectiveness and range).

• Propulsion System

  Propellant, jet engine, or rocket motor; can use liquid or solid fuel rocket engines; typically consist of several rocket engines arranged in stages.

• Typical Components

  Targeting, guidance system, flight system, engine, and warhead.

• Payload Limitations

  Impractical for delivering chemical, biological, or conventional explosives due to high cost and effectiveness issues.

• Classification Basis

  Firing source and target (e.g., surface-to-surface, air-to-surface, surface-to-air, air-to-air).

• Strategic Importance

  Considered the ultimate strategic weapon; high speed makes it virtually invulnerable to defense.

• Trajectory Phases (Ballistic)

  Boost phase, mid-course phase, and terminal phase.

• Range (Long-range ballistic missile)

  Greater than 5,500 kilometers (approximately 3,410 miles).

• Alternative Term (Long-range ballistic missile)

  Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or strategic ballistic missile.

Timeline

• Joe Biden's Administration, in its lame duck president phase, authorizes Ukraine to use long-range missiles inside Russia. (Source: Related Documents)

  Not specified

• Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, responds to the authorization by testing a new, unstoppable Hypersonic missile with a MIRV Warhead. (Source: Related Documents)

  Not specified

Missile

A missile is an airborne ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight aided usually by a propellant, jet engine or rocket motor. Historically, 'missile' referred to any projectile that is thrown, shot or propelled towards a target; this usage is still recognized today with any unguided jet- or rocket-propelled weapons generally described as rocket artillery. Airborne explosive devices without propulsion are referred to as shells if fired by an artillery piece and bombs if dropped by an aircraft. Missiles are also generally guided towards specific targets termed as guided missiles or guided rockets. Missile systems usually have five system components: targeting, guidance system, flight system, engine, and warhead. Missiles are primarily classified into different types based on firing source and target such as surface-to-surface, air-to-surface, surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles.

Web Search Results

• Long-Range Missiles Primer

  is defined as a ballistic missile with a range of greater than 5,500 km. [...] The long-range ballistic missile is rightly considered the ultimate strategic weapon. It can deliver a payload more than ten thousand miles; its high speed makes it virtually invulnerable to defense; its accuracy when armed with a nuclear warhead suffices to destroy almost any target. This same speed, however, makes it unable to deliver a chemical or biological agent effectively, and its high cost makes it impractical for delivering conventional explosives. Thus, an effort to build such a [...] The propulsion system is usually the first step a country tackles. Either a liquid or solid fuel rocket engine can be used to achieve this, but the fuel must be able to lift not only the mass of the warhead, airframe and guidance system, but also its own mass. Long-range missiles typically consist of several rocket engines arranged in stages. After the ability to launch is acquired, the missile developer must move to the second task, which is being able to accurately place the missile on the

• [PDF] Fact Sheet: Ballistic vs. Cruise Missiles

  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

• Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) - Lockheed Martin

  long range, navigating semi-autonomously to the target, and delivering a precise payload from safe, standoff range. [...] ## LRASM: Long-range anti-surface cruise missile. [...] LRASM brings additional, advanced long-range sea and land strike capabilities to the 5th Generation F-35 fleet, with initial fit checks completed and ongoing integration efforts. Long Range Anti-Ship Missile

• Worldwide Ballistic Missile Inventories | Arms Control Association

  Short- and medium-range ballistic missiles are referred to as theater ballistic missiles, whereas ICBMs or long-range ballistic missiles are described as strategic ballistic missiles. Missiles are often classified by fuel-type: liquid or solid propellants. Missiles with solid fuel require less maintenance and preparation time than missiles with liquid fuel because solid-propellants have the fuel and oxidizer together, whereas liquid-fueled missiles must keep the two separated until right before [...] | DF-21A (CSS-5, Mod 2) | Operational | 1,770+ km | Solid | | DF-21C (CSS-5 Mod 4) | Operational | 2,150-2,500 km | Solid | | DF-21D (CSS-5 Mod 5) ASBM variant | Operational | 1,500 km | Solid | | DF-26 | Operational | 4,000 km | Solid | | DF-31 (CSS-10 Mod 1) | Operational | 7,000+ km | Solid | | DF-31A (CSS-10 Mod 2) | Operational | 11,000+ km | Solid | | DF-41 (CSS-X-20) | Operational | 12,000-15,000 km | Solid | | Julang (JL) 1 (CSS-N-3) (SLBM) | Retiring | 1,000+ km | Solid | [...] | Julang (JL) 2 (CSS-N-14) (SLBM) | Operational | 7,000+ km | Solid | | Julang (JL) 3 (SLBM) | Operational | 9,000+ km | Solid | | Egypt | R-300 (SS-1-C Scud-B) | Operational | 300 km | Liquid | | Project-T (Scud B-100) | Operational | 450 km | Liquid | | Scud-C | Operational | 550 km | Liquid | | R-70 Luna M (Frog-7B) | Operational | 70 km | Solid | | Sakr-80 | Operational | 80+ km | Solid | | France | M45 (SLBM) | Retired | 4,000-6000 km | Solid |

• Ballistic missile - Wikipedia

  Long- and medium-range ballistic missiles are generally designed to deliver nuclear weapons because their payload is too limited for conventional explosives to be cost-effective in comparison to conventional bomber aircraft. Quasi-ballistic missiles ------------------------ [edit] [...] Tactical ballistic missile (TBM): Range less than 300 km Short-range ballistic missile (SRBM): Range from 300 to 1,000 kilometres (190 to 620 mi) Medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM): Range from 1,000 to 3,500 kilometres (620 to 2,170 mi) Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM): Range from 3,500 to 5,500 kilometres (2,200 to 3,400 mi) Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM): Range greater than 5,500 kilometres (3,400 mi) [...] In order to cover large distances, ballistic missiles are usually launched into a high sub-orbital spaceflight; for intercontinental missiles, the highest altitude (apogee) reached during free-flight is about 4,500 kilometers (2,800 mi).( A ballistic missile's trajectory consists of three parts or phases: the boost phase, the mid-course phase and the terminal phase. Special systems and capabilities are required to facilitate the successful passage from one phase to the other.(