Editing Missile (section)

===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"/>