gambit
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There are two main reasons why there is a need for a supersonic response:Question: Can a supersonic (not subsonic) cruise missile have a range of more than 500 Km, because in Wiki it is written that supersonic ones mostly have ranges upto 500Km and I haven't found any crusie missiles of US/Russia to have a range of over 500 km and supersonic. Why is it so?
(just curious, I am not an expert in physics)
- Your enemy is very close by, as in the next border. It is not very intuitive but the closer is your enemy, the greater the necessity to strike fast and hard so as to minimize his ability to do the same to you.
- The target is 'time sensitive'.
Technically speaking, there is nothing to prevent the development of a supersonic cruise missile. The issue is with design, as in no straight wings like the current technology. You need sufficient fuel. The lower the flight altitude, the more fuel because the air is thicker and your missile may need to fly around or over obstacles. Maneuvers cost fuel. Increased fuel mean you may have to settle for less warhead load. For US, our cruise missiles have such a range because their parent launchers are ships, submarines, and other aircrafts, in other words, other vessels carried those cruise missiles a good part of the journey to the battlefield and lie in wait for orders to launch.