I see in the news that Iran fired “ballistic” missles. How are these different than cruise missles and what is used when?
Thank you all in advance.
In: Engineering
Ballistic missiles work like an old catapult in some ways.
They use rockets to accelerate themselves into the air, run out of fuel, then guide themselves onto the target using a ballistic trajectory (gravity).
A cruise missile is like a fighter jet, it has an engine that runs constantly allowing the missile to fly until it hits the target.
Cruise missiles tend to fly at lower altitudes, while ballistic missiles can go high up. Depending on the model even into space.
EDIT: Just add, Ballistic missiles are better suited to long range targets while Cruise missiles are for short to medium range targets where a higher degree of accuracy is required. Iran and many middle eastern countries still use a lot of ballistic missiles for medium range because it’s older technology that they have access to. They are universal delivery vehicles usable for explosive, chemical weapons, or nuclear bombs.
Cruise missiles have some sort of jet engine on them which allow them to cruise at low altitude for long times, sometimes hours. They are the low and slow approach to defeating missile defense. Radars have issues detecting targets that low, ground based radar can only detect missiles when they are above the horizon and airborne radar have issues distinguishing the missiles from the regular ground clutter line trees, power lines, mountains, etc. The problem is they are expensive and fragile. You are essentially building a full jet fighter just to crash it into a target, and if it gets hit on the way there it can no longer fly and will crash into something else.
Ballistic missiles however are the high and fast approach. They have a rocket motor that fires for just a few seconds and gives the missile all the speed and altitude to continue to the target. It is much faster and can cross terrain in seconds what a cruise missile needs an hour to cross. It will get noticed on radar, probably as it launches. But by the time the air defense systems have figured out how to best shoot it down it is too late as it is already too close. It is far more robust and can actually take a hit. There does not have to be any active guidance after launch as the payload is already heading on its final course to the target. You can put a hole straight through it and it will still hit the target. In fact blowing it up will only cause the target to get sprayed with remains of the missile which can still be deadly. And because it is so much cheaper you can launch hundreds of them for the cost of a cruise missile, or have tens of different payloads in each missile where each payload needs to be shot down independently of each other.
Needless to say ballistic missiles are considered an older technology. Modern missile defense systems are able to make decisions fast enough to shoot them down. But it is still favored by some for its simplicity and low cost. You can make a rocket motor at home but only a few companies in the world can build jet engines for cruise missiles. Let alone guidance systems. Even for Iran it have taken quite a bit of effort to get those cruise missiles, but teenagers are building ballistic missiles in Gaza.
Ballistic Missiles: These are launched into the sky and follow a high, arcing trajectory (like throwing a ball into the air). They are propelled initially and then rely on gravity to guide them down to their target. They can travel very far, even between continents. Once launched, they can’t change their path much. They’re used for long-range attacks, often carrying powerful warheads.
Cruise Missiles: These fly at a lower altitude and are powered throughout their flight, like a small, fast airplane. They are more precise because they can adjust their course while flying. They are used for medium-range strikes and can hit specific targets with great accuracy.
When are they used?
Ballistic missiles are often used for strategic, long-range attacks.
Cruise missiles are used for precision strikes on specific targets, usually over shorter distances.
Cruise missile is effectively an unmanned jet plane. It has wings and jet engine which let it fly by preprogrammed route. It usually tries to fly as low as possible, below the radars can detect it.
Ballistic missile follows ballistic trajectory. Rocket engine accelerates it after the launch and then it just flies in a kind of ‘free fall’.
It’s easier for ballistic missile to reach higher speed and since it reaches higher altituted, air defence can intercept it only on the final part of their trajectory.
(the next part is based on practical experience learned in Kyiv, Ukraine):
when I hear Russians launched cruise missiles, I know I have at least half an hour to go to a bomb shelter. An when it’s a ballistic missile launch, I don’t even try to go to shelter as I have less then five minutes before they reach my city. Russians tried to make hypersonic cruise missile, but it didn’t work well.
Ballistic missiles have a trajectory like a cannon ball, just much higher. Cruise missile is more like an airplane, with wings and all.
Ballistic misled just shoot up then fall back down. Cruise middles you fly around like a little rocket ship
A ballistic missile flies up and then falls on the target. Some of them glide.
A cruise missile flies all the way to the target.
Generally, ballistic missiles are for longer-ranged strikes and heavier payloads. Cruise missiles are for more precise strikes.
You’re standing in a field with a target and you have a ball in your hand. You throw it and try to hit the target. That is a ballistic missile. The rockets are aimed at their starting point, and the rocket engine only fires to push the rocket up in the air at the angle and direction that is is already aimed.
You’re standing in a field with a target and you have a radio controlled plane. You start the plane and use controls to fly it to the target. That is a cruise missile. The cruise missile can be pointed any direction when it starts out, because it has an engine that runs for most of its flight, as well as wings and control surfaces that allow it to change direction.
Thank you all. Some smart cookies out there.
Feels like you just made eldritch blast with all the upgrades without any cost of the upgrades.
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