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?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

5. Ans: d

Explanation:

Ballistic missiles

Ballistic missiles are powered initially by a rocket or series of rockets in stages, but then follow an unpowered trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target. Ballistic missiles can carry either nuclear or conventional warhead.

There are four general classifications of ballistic missiles based on their range, or the maximum distance the missile can travel:  

• Short-range: less than 1,000 kilometers (approximately 620 miles), also known as “tactical” ballistic missiles. 
•  Medium-range: between 1,000 and 3,000 kilometers (approximately 620-1,860 miles), also known as “theater” ballistic missiles.  
• Intermediate-range: between 3,000 and 5,500 kilometers (approximately 1,860-3,410 miles)  
• Long-range: more than 5,500 kilometers (approximately 3,410 miles), also known as intercontinental or strategic ballistic missiles. 
• Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) can fly much further than the minimum range; for example, Russia could hit Chicago with an ICBM launched from the Krasnoyarsk ICBM base, which is located 9,156 kilometers (5,689miles) away. 

Cruise missiles

Cruise missiles are unmanned vehicles that are propelled by jet engines, much like an airplane. They can be launched from ground, air, or sea platforms. 

Cruise missiles remain within the atmosphere for the duration of their flight and can fly as low as a few meters off the ground.

Flying low to the surface of the earth expends more fuel but makes a cruise missile very difficult to detect. 

Cruise missiles are self-guided and use multiple methods to accurately deliver their payload, including terrain mapping, global positioning systems (GPS) and inertial guidance, which uses motion sensors and gyroscopes to keep the missile on a pre-programmed flight path. 

As advanced cruise missiles approach their target, remote operators can use a camera in the nose of the missile to see what the missile sees. This gives them the option to manually guide the missile to its target or to abort the strike.  

Brahmos Cruise missile

• Brahmos is a two-stage missile with a solid propellant booster engine as its first stage which brings it to supersonic speed and then gets separated. The liquid ramjet or the second stage then takes the missile closer to 3 Mach speed in cruise phase. Stealth technology and guidance system with advanced embedded software provides the missile with special features.
• The missile has flight range of upto 290 km with supersonic speed , it operates on  Fire and Forget principle
• The range of the missile was originally capped at 290km as per obligations of the Missile Technology Control Regime. Following India’s entry into the club in June 2016, the range has been extended to 450km and work is on to extend it to 600km and beyond 

Agni-V Ballistic missile

• Agni-V uses a three-stage solid fuelled engine and is capable of striking targets at ranges upto 5,000 Kms and can reach most parts of China. 
• The Agni-V, which currently has  range of up to 5,000 kilometre  as  officially claimed technically qualifies only as an intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM), and not an Intercontinental ballistic missiles  (ICBM) because ICBMs are missiles with ranges over 5,500 km. But the official claim of 5,000 km probably understates the range of the missile, with many reports claiming it is a true ICBM with an 8,000 km range. 
• On March 11,2024 ,  the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) undertook the maiden test of its indigenously developed Agni-V MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicle) missile.  The flight test, named Mission Divyastra . 
• With MIRV technology a single intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) can carry and deliver multiple warheads at different locations several hundred kilometers apart.
• MIRV capability is a complex technology and India is among a small group of countries – the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, France, and China – that have developed it.

Hence, both statements 1 & 2 are incorrect.

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