Editing Missile (section)

==Classification==
{{See also|List of missiles}}
Missiles can be classified into categories by various parameters such as type, launch platform and target, range, propulsion and guidance system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brahmos.com/content.php?id=10&sid=9|title=Missile classification|work=[[BrahMos Aerospace]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> Missiles are generally categorized into strategic or tactical missile systems. Tactical missile systems are short-range systems used to carry out a limited strike in a smaller area and might carry conventional or nuclear warheads.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/with-putins-nuclear-threat-strategic-weapons-and-tactical-8179645/|title=Strategic and nuclear weapons|work=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref><ref name="Brit1">{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/strategic-missile|title=Strategic missile|encyclopedia=[[Britannica]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> Strategic missiles are long-range weapons used to target beyond the immediate vicinity and are mostly designed to carry nuclear warheads though other warheads can also be fitted.<ref name="Brit1"/>
[[File:Minuteman III MIRV path.svg|thumb|upright=1|Typical ballistic missile sequence: {{ubl
|1. Launches by firing motor1(A)
|2. Stage1 drops, motor2(B) ignites & shroud(E) ejects
|3. Motor3(C) ignites and separates
|4. Stage3 terminates and post-boost vehicle(D) separates
|5. Vehicle maneuvers itself and prepares re-entry vehicle (RV)
|6. RV with decoys and chaffs deploys
|7. RV re-enters the atmosphere
|8. Warhead(s) detonate on target}}]]

===Strategic===
Strategic weapons are often classified into [[cruise missile|cruise]] and [[ballistic missile]]s.<ref name="BCM">{{Cite web|url=https://militaryview.com/what-are-the-differences-between-a-ballistic-missile-and-a-cruise-missile/|title=Difference between ballistic and cruise missiles|date=14 September 2023 |publisher=Military view|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> Ballistic missiles are powered by rockets during launch and follow a trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target while cruise missiles are continuously powered by jet engines and travel at a flatter trajectory.<ref name="BCM"/>

====Ballistic====
A ballistic missile is powered by single or multiple rockets in stages initially before following an unpowered trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target. It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads.<ref name="ACS">{{Cite web|url=https://armscontrolcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Ballistic-vs.-Cruise-Missiles-Fact-Sheet.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830223143/https://armscontrolcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Ballistic-vs.-Cruise-Missiles-Fact-Sheet.pdf|url-status=live|title=Ballistic vs cruise missiles|archive-date=30 August 2020|publisher=Arms Control Center|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> A ballistic missile might reach [[supersonic]] or [[hypersonic]] speed and often travel [[exoatmospheric|out of]] the [[atmosphere of earth|Earth's atmosphere]] before re-entry.<ref>{{Cite web|title=World's military powers|work=[[The Independent]]|url=http://www.independent.co.ug/index.php/reports/world-report/74-world-report-/172-worlds-military-powers|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530062700/http://www.independent.co.ug/index.php/reports/world-report/74-world-report-/172-worlds-military-powers|archive-date=30 May 2010}}</ref> It usually has three stages of flight:<ref name="ACS"/>
*Boost phase: First phase at launch when one or more stages of rocket engine(s) fire propelling the missile
*Mid-course phase: Second phase when the rocket engines stop firing and the missile continues ascending upwards on the given trajectory
*Terminal phase: Final phase when the warhead(s) detach and descend towards the target

[[File:Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile.jpg|thumb|200px|A [[Tomahawk (missile family)|Tomahawk cruise missile]] in flight]]

Ballistic missiles are categorized based on range as:<ref name="Brit"/><ref name="BCM"/>
*[[short range missile|Short-range]] : less than {{convert|1000|km}}
*[[medium range ballistic missile|Medium-range]] : {{convert|1000|km}} to {{convert|3000|km}}
*[[intermediate range ballistic missile|Intermediate-range]] : {{convert|3000|km}} to {{convert|5500|km}}
*[[intercontinental ballistic missile|Inter-continental]] : greater than {{convert|5500|km}}

====Cruise====
A [[cruise missile]] is a guided missile that remains in the atmosphere and flies the major portion of its flight at a constant speed.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/cruise-missile|title=Cruise missile|encyclopedia=[[Britannica]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> It is designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high precision and are propelled by jet engines.<ref name="ACS"/> A cruise missile can be launched from multiple platforms and is often self-guided. It flies at lower speeds (often [[Subsonic flight|subsonic]] or [[supersonic]]) and close to the surface of the Earth, which expends more fuel but makes it difficult to detect.<ref name="BCM"/>

===Tactical===
Missiles might be also be classified basis launch platform and target into [[surface-to-air missile|surface-to-air]], [[surface-to-surface missile|surface-to-surface]], [[air-to-air missile|air-to-air]], [[air-to-surface missile|air-to-surface]], [[anti-ship missile|anti-ship]] and [[anti tank missile|anti-tank]].<ref name="Brit">{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/missile#ref4906|title=Missile|encyclopedia=[[Britannica]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"style="font-size: 85%"
!System
!Abbreviation
!Launch platform
!Target
|-
|[[Anti-ship missile|Anti-ship]]
|AShM
|Air/Land/Water
|Water
|-
|[[Anti tank missile|Anti-tank]]
|ATGM
|Air/Land
|Land
|-
|[[Air-to-air missile|Air-to-air]]
|AAM
|Air
|Air
|-
|[[Air-to-surface missile|Air-to-surface]]
|ASM
|Air
|Land
|-
|[[Surface-to-air missile|Surface-to-air]]
|SAM
|Land
|Air
|-
|[[Surface-to-surface missile|Surface-to-surface]]
|SSM
|Land
|Land
|-
|[[Anti-satellite weapon|Anti-satellite]]
|ASAT
|Air/Land/Water
|Space
|-
|}

====Anti-ship====
{{multiple image
| border    = 
| total_width = 210
| direction = vertical
| align = right
| caption_align = center
| image1 = Exocet-mil.jpg
| caption1 = An [[Exocet]] [[Anti-ship missile]] in flight
| image2 = Army-fgm148.jpg
| caption2 = An [[FGM-148 Javelin]] [[Anti-tank guided missile|Anti-tank missile]]
| image3 = Aircraft Combat Archer (2565196807).jpg
| caption3 = An [[AIM-120 AMRAAM]] [[air-to-air missile|AAM]] fired from a [[Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor|F-22]]
| image4 = Rudram-1.jpg
| caption4 = A mounted [[Rudram (missile)|Rudram-1]] [[Air-to-surface missile]]
| image5 = Akash_MK-1S_missile_test_on_27_May_2019_-_1.jpg
| caption5 = An [[Akash (missile)|Akash]] [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] fired from a mobile platform
| image6 = ATACMSMay2006 (cropped).jpg
| caption6 = A [[MGM-140 ATACMS]] [[surface-to-surface missile|surface-surface missile]]
| image7 = CASATCoOrbital01.jpg
| caption7 = An artist's impression of an [[anti-satellite weapon|ASAT]]
}}
{{Main|Anti-ship missile|anti-ship ballistic missile|anti-submarine missile}}

An anti-ship missile (AShM) is designed for use against large [[boats]] and [[ships]] such as [[destroyer]]s and [[aircraft carrier]]s. Most anti-ship missiles are of the [[sea skimming]] variety, and many use a combination of [[inertial navigation system|inertial guidance]] and [[active radar homing]]. A large number of other anti-ship missiles use [[infrared homing]] to follow the heat that is emitted by a ship; it is also possible for anti-ship missiles to be guided by radio command all the way. Many anti-ship missiles can be launched from a variety of weapons systems including [[Surface combatant|surface warship]]s, [[submarine]]s, [[fighter plane|fighter aircraft]], [[maritime patrol aircraft]], [[Military helicopter|helicopters]], [[shore battery|shore batteries]], land vehicles and by [[infantry]].<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/antiship-missile|title=Anti ship missile|encyclopedia=[[Britannica]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>

[[Anti-submarine missile]] is a [[standoff missile|standoff]] [[anti-submarine weapon]] variant of anti-ship missiles used to deliver an [[explosive material|explosive]] warhead aimed directly at a [[submarine]], a [[depth charge]], or a [[homing torpedo]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Submarine Warfare, Today and Tomorrow|first1=John Evelyn|last1=Moore|first2=Richard|last2=Compton-Hall|year=1987|isbn=978-0-9175-6121-4|publisher=Adler & Adler|page=23}}</ref>

====Anti-tank====
{{Main|Anti-tank guided missile}}
An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy [[armoured fighting vehicle|heavily armored]] [[military vehicle]]s. ATGMs range in size from [[Shoulder-fired missile|shoulder-launched]] weapons, which can be transported by a single soldier, to larger tripod-mounted or vehicle and aircraft mounted missile systems. Earlier man-portable [[anti-tank warfare|anti-tank weapons]] like [[anti-tank rifle]]s and magnetic [[anti-tank mine]]s had a short range but sophisticated antitank missiles can be directed to a longer target by several different guidance systems, including laser guiding, television camera, or [[Wire-guided missile|wire guiding]].<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/antitank-guided-missile|title=Anti tank guided missile|encyclopedia=[[Britannica]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>

====Air-to-air====
{{Main|Air-to-air missile}}
An air-to-air missile (AAM) is a missile fired from a [[fighter aircraft]] for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more [[rocket motor]]s, usually [[solid-fuel rocket|solid fueled]] but sometimes [[liquid-fuel rocket|liquid fueled]]. A [[radar]] or [[Infrared homing|heat emission]] based homing system is generally used and sometimes can use a combination. Short range missiles used to [[dogfight|engage opposing aircraft]] at ranges of less than 16&nbsp;km often use infrared guidance while [[beyond-visual-range missile|long range]] missiles mostly rely upon radar guidance.<ref name="Tact">{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/tactical-weapons-system|title=Tactical Weapons system|encyclopedia=[[Britannica]]|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref>

====Air-to-surface====
{{Main|Air-to-surface missile}}
An air-to-surface missile (ASM) is a missile fired from an [[attack aircraft]], [[strike fighter]] or an [[attack helicopter]] for the purpose of destroying land based targets. Missiles are typically guided and unguided [[glide bomb]]s not considered missiles. The most common propulsion systems are rocket motor for short range and jet engines for long-range but [[ramjet]]s are also used. Missile guidance is typically via [[laser guidance|laser]], infrared homing, [[optical guidance|optical]] or [[satellite guidance|satellite]]. Air-to-surface missiles for ground attack by aircraft provide a higher [[standoff distance]] engaging targets from far away and out of range of low range air defenses.<ref name="Tact"/>

====Surface-to-air====
{{Main|Surface-to-air missile}}
A surface-to-air missile (SAM) is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy [[aircraft]], other missiles or flying objects. It is a type of [[antiaircraft warfare|anti-aircraft system]] and missiles have replaced most other forms of anti-aircraft weapons due to the increased range and accuracy. [[Anti-aircraft gun]]s are being used only for specialized close-in firing roles.<ref name="Wragg">{{Cite book|title=A Dictionary of Aviation|first=David W.|last=Wragg|isbn=978-0-85045-163-4|edition=first|publisher=Osprey|year=1973|page=254}}</ref> Missiles can be mounted in clusters on vehicles or towed on trailers and can be hand operated by infantry. SAMs frequently use solid-propellants and may be guided by radar or infrared sensors or by a human operator using optical tracking.<ref name="Tact"/>

====Surface-to-surface====
{{Main|Surface-to-surface missile}}
A surface-to-surface missile (SSM) is a missile designed to be launched from the ground or the sea and strike targets on land.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.airforce-technology.com/features/the-worlds-top-air-to-surface-missiles/|title=The world's top air-to-surface missiles|date=November 2019 |work=Airforce technology|access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> They may be fired from hand-held or vehicle mounted devices, from fixed installations or from a ship. They are often powered by a rocket engine or sometimes fired by an explosive charge, since the launching platform is typically stationary or moving slowly. They usually have fins and/or wings for [[lift (force)|lift]] and stability, although hyper-velocity or short-ranged missiles may use body lift or fly a ballistic trajectory.<ref name="Wragg"/> Most anti-tank and anti-ship missiles are part of surface-to-surface missile systems.<ref name="Tact"/>

====Anti-satellite====
{{Main|Anti-satellite weapon}}
An anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) is a [[space weapon]] designed to incapacitate or destroy [[satellite]]s for [[strategic military|strategic]] or [[Military tactics|tactical]] purposes.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Friedman|first1=Norman|title=The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems|year=1989|publisher=Naval Institute Press|page=244|isbn=9-780-8702-1793-7}}</ref> Although no ASAT system has {{as of|2023|alt=yet}} been utilized in [[warfare]], a few countries have successfully shot down their own satellites to demonstrate their ASAT capabilities in a [[show of force]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hitchens|first=Theresa|title=Indian ASAT Debris Threatens All LEO Sats: Update|url=https://breakingdefense.com/2019/04/indian-asat-debris-threatens-all-leo-sats/|access-date=6 January 2021|work=Breaking Defense|date=5 April 2019|language=en-US|archive-date=9 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109041323/https://breakingdefense.com/2019/04/indian-asat-debris-threatens-all-leo-sats/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Strout|first=Nathan|date=16 December 2020|title=Space Command calls out another Russian anti-satellite weapon test|url=https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2020/12/16/space-command-calls-out-another-russian-anti-satellite-weapon-test/|access-date=6 January 2021|work=C4ISRNET|language=en-US|archive-date=9 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109000347/https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2020/12/16/space-command-calls-out-another-russian-anti-satellite-weapon-test/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Russia conducts space-based anti-satellite weapons test|url=https://www.spacecom.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2285098/russia-conducts-space-based-anti-satellite-weapons-test/|access-date=6 January 2021|work=[[United States Space Command]]|language=en-US|archive-date=9 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109053433/https://www.spacecom.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2285098/russia-conducts-space-based-anti-satellite-weapons-test/|url-status=live}}</ref> ASATs have also been used to remove decommissioned satellites.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gohd|first=Chelsea|date=22 November 2021|title=Russian anti-satellite missile test draws condemnation from space companies and countries|url=https://www.space.com/crussian-anti-satellite-missile-test-world-condemnation|access-date=23 November 2021|work=Space.com}}</ref> ASAT roles include defensive measures against an adversary's space-based and nuclear weapons, a [[force multiplier]] for a nuclear [[Pre-emptive nuclear strike|first strike]], a countermeasure against an adversary's [[Anti-ballistic missile defense countermeasure|anti-ballistic missile defense]] (ABM), an [[asymmetric warfare|asymmetric]] counter to a technologically superior adversary, and a [[countervalue|counter-value]] weapon.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Strauch|first=Adam|title=Still All Quiet on the Orbital Front? The Slow Proliferation of Anti-satellite Weapons|journal=Defence & Strategy|year=2014}}</ref>