TYPES OF MISSILE SYSTEM IN INDIA

I. CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF TYPE

1. Cruise Missiles
• Cruise missiles are unmanned, self-propelled guided weapons that fly at low altitude to avoid radar detection.
• They fly within the earth’s atmosphere and use jet engine technology.
• They are guided throughout their flight path and rely on aerodynamic lift.
• Primary role is precise delivery of conventional or nuclear payloads.
• They can be launched from land, sea, air, or submarines.
• Cruise missiles vary in speed, range, and penetration capability.

Types based on speed:
• Subsonic Cruise Missiles:
  – Fly below the speed of sound (around 0.8 Mach).
  – Examples: Tomahawk (USA), Harpoon (USA), Exocet (France), Nirbhay (India).

• Supersonic Cruise Missiles:
  – Fly at speeds between Mach 2–3.
  – Provide high kinetic energy and lethality.
  – Can be launched from ships, submarines, aircraft, and mobile launchers.
  – Example: BrahMos (India–Russia).

• Hypersonic Cruise Missiles:
  – Fly at speeds above Mach 5.
  – BrahMos-II is under development and will be hypersonic.

2. Ballistic Missiles
• Ballistic missiles follow a ballistic trajectory for most of their flight.
• They exit the earth’s atmosphere and re-enter at high speed.
• Capable of carrying large payloads including nuclear warheads.
• Can be launched from land or sea platforms.
• Examples: Prithvi I & II, Agni I–V, Dhanush.

II. CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF LAUNCH MODE

• Surface-to-Surface Missiles:
  – Launched from land-based platforms to land targets.
  – Example: Agni series.

• Surface-to-Air Missiles:
  – Designed to destroy aerial targets such as aircraft, helicopters, and missiles.
  – Used for air defence.
  – Example: Akash.

• Surface (Coast)-to-Sea Missiles:
  – Launched from land to hit naval targets.
  – Example: BrahMos.

• Air-to-Air Missiles:
  – Launched from aircraft to destroy enemy aircraft.
  – Example: Astra.

• Air-to-Surface Missiles:
  – Launched from aircraft to strike land or sea targets.
  – Use laser, infrared, optical or GPS guidance.

• Sea-to-Sea Missiles:
  – Launched from one ship to another ship.

• Sea-to-Surface Missiles:
  – Launched from naval platforms to strike land targets.

• Anti-Tank Missiles:
  – Designed to destroy heavily armoured vehicles.
  – Can be launched from aircraft, helicopters, tanks or shoulder launchers.
  – Example: Nag missile.

III. CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF RANGE

• Short Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBM):
  – Example: Prithvi.

• Medium Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBM):
  – Example: Agni-I.

• Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBM):
  – Example: Agni-IV.

• Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM):
  – Example: Agni-V.

IV. CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF GUIDANCE SYSTEMS

• Wire Guidance:
  – Commands transmitted via wire.
  – Resistant to electronic interference.

• Command Guidance:
  – Missile guided by commands from launch platform via radar or radio.

• Terrain Comparison Guidance (TERCOM):
  – Uses terrain mapping to guide missile.
  – Used in BrahMos.

• Terrestrial / Celestial Guidance:
  – Uses star positions to correct trajectory.

• Inertial Guidance:
  – Fully internal guidance system.
  – Pre-programmed before launch.

• Beam Rider Guidance:
  – Missile rides a radar beam directed at the target.

• Laser Guidance:
  – Missile homes in on reflected laser energy from target.

V. CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF PROPULSION

1. Solid Propulsion
• Uses solid fuel such as aluminium powder.
• Easy storage and quick launch.
• High thrust and reliability.

2. Liquid Propulsion
• Uses liquid hydrocarbon fuels.
• Higher specific impulse.
• Difficult storage and longer preparation time.
• Thrust can be controlled precisely.

3. Hybrid Propulsion
• Combination of solid and liquid propulsion.
• Combines advantages of both systems.

4. Ramjet Propulsion
• No turbine; compression achieved by forward motion.
• Requires supersonic speed to operate.
• Used in BrahMos missile.

5. Scramjet Propulsion
• Supersonic combustion ramjet.
• Combustion occurs at supersonic speeds.
• Uses hydrogen fuel.
• Used for hypersonic missiles.

6. Cryogenic Propulsion
• Uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
• Extremely high efficiency.
• Requires complex storage and insulation.

VI. CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF WARHEAD

• Conventional Warhead:
  – Uses high-energy chemical explosives.
  – Damage caused by blast and fragmentation.

• Strategic (Nuclear) Warhead:
  – Uses radioactive material.
  – Designed for massive destruction.

• Biological Warhead:
  – India does not possess or develop biological warheads.

VII. BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS (BACKGROUND)

• Biological weapons use disease-causing agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or toxins.
• They can affect humans, animals, or plants.
• Classified as weapons of mass destruction due to their indiscriminate impact.
• Most countries have banned biological weapons.

• Biological Weapons Convention (BWC):
  – Opened in 1972.
  – By 2013, 180 countries had signed the treaty.
  – 170 countries have ratified it.

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Subject: Science

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