Rockets and Missiles.... what are they ?

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We all hear the terms rockets and missiles right ? but are they the same or are they different ?

Well here is my understanding... feel free to correct me thanks

So first what should we discuss missiles or rockets ?

Lets look at missiles first.......
By the word missile what do we mean ? A missile is anything that is thrown as a weapon.... so technically any projectile, a stone you throw, bullet fired or some girl throwing her sandal at you are all examples of missiles (and one should stay clear of them).

So then what is a rocket ?
Any missile (see my explanation above) that is powered through out its duration of flight is a rocket. Examples include Saturn V (Rocket that launched the man to the moon), An RPG or our Hawaiee fire works.

I mentioned the Saturn V above (pic below) as a rocket...

Is it not a missile ?

Well things get a bit complicated here...

When it comes to military terminology any rocket that has some form of guidance is a missile. But if it is targeted just like an ordinary dumb bomb/bullet then it is a plain old rocket.

Military missiles
AMRAAM

Polaris

Stinger

and Military Rockets are

ZUNI

ALR-99

But Saturn V was guided right? Is it not a missile?
Yes it was guided by the best guidance available and still is... MAN.
But that does not qualify it to become missile in military terms? No? Why? Because it was used for non military purposes.

So rockets like Ariane 5, Delta and Proton series will be plain old rockets despite their complex guidance systems

BUT what is this

Carl Gustav recoilless rifle

Why is it called a rifle.. is it not a rocket ?
NO because the weapon above does not fire a rocket.. it fires a round similar to a bullet/shell.

 

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ROCKET POWERED AIRCRAFT

A rocket powered aircraft is an aircraft that is powered by a Rocket engine instead of Jet engine....
The difference between a rocket engine and jet engine as many of us know is that jet engines are air breathing engines.... they require air. A rocket engine takes its air with it....

Since a rocket powered aircraft does not need air and
If it has a sufficiently powerful engine
if it can carry sufficiently enough fuel it and
if it has the necessary life support systems

it can fly all the way to and into space

examples include

Messerschmitt Me 163

Bell X-1

Bell X-15

Space Shuttle

 

[siegecrossbow]

Actually the phrase missile used to and still do, to a limited extent, describe projectile weapons in general.

 

[untitled]

Actually the phrase missile used to and still do, to a limited extent, describe projectile weapons in general.

I did mention that in my first post

 

[siegecrossbow]

I did mention that in my first post

Haha I need to learn to read posts better. Thnx for pointing that out.

 

[Manticore]

_________________________MISSILE
A missile is a guided weapon having the ability to control its trajectory. It may or may not be propelled by a rocket.
Many (but not all) guided missiles use rockets as their principal source of propulsion eg sidewinder





______________________BASED ON TRAJECTORY

* A quasi ballistic missile (also called a semi ballistic missile) is a category of missile that has a low trajectory and/or is largely ballistic but can perform maneuvers in flight or make unexpected changes in direction and range.

At a lower trajectory than a ballistic missile, a quasi ballistic missile can maintain higher speed, thus allowing its target less time to react to the attack, at the cost of reduced range.

* A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistic flightpath with the objective of delivering one or more warheads to a predetermined target.

* cruise missilies are terrain hugging missiles which are self-navigating, and can fly on a non-ballistic, extremely low altitude trajectory


_______________________BASED ON RANGE

*tactical ballistic missile : range is less than 300 kilometres
*(BRBM): Range less than 200 km
*(TBM): Range between 300 km and 3500 km
*(SRBM): Range 1000 km or less
*(MRBM): Range between 1000 km and 3500 km
*(IRBM) or long-range ballistic missile (LRBM): Range between 3500 km and 5500 km
*(ICBM): Range greater than 5500 km
*(SLBM): Launched from ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), all current designs have intercontinental range.

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rockets

Once thrown, there is no further correction for the trajectory of that rocket

The term "rocket" has been used ever since the Chinese first built them with black powder 500 years (?) ago even though they relied on the oxygen in the air to burn. In modern day dialogues, the use of the word "rocket" implies that a liquid fueled engine has it's own oxidizer on board, typically LOX. But not always.

Solid fueled boosters are said to use a propellent that contains it's own oxidizer so the inconsistency spreads the confusion. They too are rockets but we call them "boosters". Why? I haven't a clue!




projectile, bullet
Cannon shells are referred to as "projectiles" or "shells" when over a certain diameter and bullets when smaller.


http://www.defence.pk/forums/wmd-missiles/99968-medium-range-ballistic-missiles.html
http://www.defence.pk/forums/wmd-missiles/99878-standoff-missiles.html
http://www.defence.pk/forums/wmd-missiles/103666-guided-missiles-working.html



Pakistani Quasi ballistic missiles and comparison with their contemporaries
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Hatf IX (NASR) - pakistan

Operationalrange range of 60 +km, carries tactical plotonium based nuclear warheads of appropriate yield

Guidancesystem INS , GPS and electro optical guidance seeker for terminal giudance -high accuracy, shoot and scoot attributes.

Platform--SINGLE TEL--2 box tubes launcher/ vehicle

Manouverability-- control surfaces behind the nose and at the tail

Propellant [as in most missiles , read the above qoute before spamming]- solid state rocket

Pakistan Military Review: Hatf IX NASR Multi Tube Ballistic Missile System

i posted this somewhere else