Q. Consider the following statements :

  1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket powered only in the initial phase of flight.
  2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • 1 only
  • 2 only
  • Both 1 and 2
  • Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Notes:
Cruise missiles & Ballistic missiles
  • Cruise missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while ballistic missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial (boost) phase of flight, after which they follow an arcing trajectory to the target.
  • Ballistic Missile
    • A ballistic missile follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver one or more warheads on a predetermined target.
    • A ballistic trajectory is the path of an object that is launched but has no active propulsion during its actual flight (these weapons are guided only during relatively brief periods of flight).
    • Consequently, the trajectory is fully determined by a given initial velocity, effects of gravity, air resistance, and motion of the earth (Coriolis Force).
    • Shorter range ballistic missiles stay within the Earth’s atmosphere.
    • Longer-ranged intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), are launched on a sub-orbital flight trajectory and spend most of their flight out of the atmosphere.
    • Types of ballistic missiles based on the range
      • Short-range (tactical) ballistic missile (SRBM): Range between 300 km and 1,000 km.
      • Medium-range (theatre) ballistic missile (MRBM): 1,000 km to 3,500 km.
      • Intermediate-range (Long-Range) ballistic missile (IRBM or LRBM): 3,500 km and 5,500 km.
      • Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM): 5,500 km +
  • Cruise missile
    • A cruise missile is a guided missile (target has to be pre-set) used against terrestrial targets.
    • It remains in the atmosphere throughout its flight.
    • It flies the major portion of its flight path at approximately constant speed.
    • Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high precision.
    • Modern cruise missiles are capable of travelling at supersonic or high subsonic speeds, are self-navigating, and are able to fly on a non-ballistic, extremely low-altitude trajectory.
    • Types of cruise missiles based on speed
      • Hypersonic (Mach 5): these missiles would travel at least five times the speed of sound (Mach 5). E.g. BrahMos-II.
      • Supersonic (Mach 2-3): these missiles travel faster than the speed of sound. E.g. BrahMos.
      • Subsonic (Mach 0.8): these missiles travel slower than the speed of sound. E.g. Nirbhay.
cruise missiles and ballistic missiles
Agni-V & BrahMos
  • Agni-V is a ballistic missile while The BrahMos (also designated as PJ-10) is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarine, ships, airplanes or land. The BrahMos is notably the fastest supersonic cruise missile in the world.
  • Agni-V
    • Agni-5 is an ingeniously built advanced surface-to-surface ballistic missile developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
    • It is a fire-and-forget missile, which cannot be stopped without an interceptor missile.
    • The missile has the capability of hitting targets beyond the range of 5000 km and is crucial for India’s self-defense systems.
    • Agni-1 to 5 missiles are designed & developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
    • Other Ranges of Agni Missiles:
      • Agni I: Range of 700-800 km.
      • Agni II: Range more than 2000 km.
      • Agni III: Range of more than 2,500 Km
      • Agni IV: Range is more than 3,500 km and can fire from a road mobile launcher.
      • Agni-V: The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.
  • BrahMos Missile
    • The BrahMos missile, an Indo-Russian joint venture, has a range of 290 km and is the fastest cruise missile in the world with a top speed of Mach 2.8 (nearly three times the speed of sound).
      • BrahMos is named for the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva.
    • It is a two-stage (solid propellant engine in the first stage and liquid ramjet in second) missile.
    • It is a multiplatform missile i.e., it can be launched from land, air, and sea and multi capability missile with pinpoint accuracy that works in both day and night irrespective of the weather conditions.
    • It operates on the “Fire and Forgets” principle i.e it does not require further guidance after launch.
Agni-V
BrahMos