Introduction to Aerospace Engineering

ANATOMY OF A MISSILE
MISSILE: A weapon that is self-propelled or directed by remote control, carrying conventional or nuclear
explosive. (or) A flying weapon that has its own engine so that it can travel a long distance before
exploding at the place that it has been aimed at

Missile can be classified on three different items:

A. launch environment.

B. Target Environment.

C. Type of vehicle.

A. The missile launch environment may be different as follows:

S.No symbol Abbreviation DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE

Launched from the aircraft while in
1 A AIR AGM-45A (Shrike)
flight
Capable of being launched from more
2 B MULTIPLE BQM-34A (fire bee)
than one environment
Horizontally stored in a protective
3 C COFFIN CGM-13B (Mace)
enclosure and launched from ground
4 F INDIVIDUAL Carried by one man XFIL ( Redeye)
5 G GROUND
Vertically stored below ground level
6 H SILO STORED HGM-25A (Titan III)
and launched from the ground
Vertically stored below ground level
7 L SILO LAUNCHED LGM-30G (Minuteman III)
and launched from below ground level
Launched from the ground vehicle or
8 M MOBILE MIM-23A (Hawk)
movable platform
Partially or unprotected in storage and
9 P SOFT PAD PGM-17A (Thor)
launched from the ground
Launched from surface such as a ship
10 R SHIP RIM-46A (Sea Mauler)
or burge
Launched from a submarine or other
11 U UNDERWATER UGM-27C (Polaris)
underwater device
B. Target environment (or Mission):

S.No Symbol Abbreviation Description Example

1 D Decoy Vehicles designed or modified to confuse, ADM-20A (Quail)
deceive, or divert enemy defenses by simulting
an attack vehicle.
2 E Special electronic Vehicle designed or modified with electronic XFEM-43B (Redeye)
equipment for communications,
countermeasures, electronic radiation sounding
or other electronic recordig or relay missions.
3 G Surface Attack Vehicle designed to destroy enemy land or sea
targets
4 I Intercept Aerial Vehicle designed to Intercept Aerial targets in AIM-9E (Sidewinder)
defensive or offensive roles.
5 Q Drone Vehicles designed for target reconnaissance, or BQM-34A (Firebee)
surveillance purpose.
6 T Training Vehicles designed or permanently modified for ATM-12B (Bullpup)
training purposes.
7 V Underwater attack Vehicles designed to destroy enemy submarines UUM-44A (subrock)
or other underwater targets.
8 W weather Vehicles designed to observe, record or relay PWN-5A
data pertaining to meterological phenomena.

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C. Type of vehicle S.No Symbol Abbreviation

1 M Guided missile
2 N Probe
3 R Rocket

Basically missiles are classified into two categories based on the usage…or mission. They are as follows:

A. Guided missiles.
B. Strategic missiles.
Guided missiles: These classes of missiles are those aerodynamic guided missiles. These missiles use aerodynamic
lift to control its direction of flight. An aerodynamic guided missile can be defined as an aerospace vehicle with
varying guidance capabilities, that is self propelled through the atmosphere for the purpose of inflicting damage on
a designated target. (or)
Aerodynamic guided missile is one that has a winged configuration and is usually fired in
a direction approximately towards a designated target and subsequently receives steering commands from the
ground guidance system or its own onboard guidance system, to improve its accuracy. Guided
missiles may either home to the target or follow a nonhoming preset course. Homing missiles may be active, semi
active or passive. Nonhoming missiles are either inertially guided or preprogrammed.
Generally homing missiles include the following equipment:
1. Propulsion system. 2. Warhead section. 3. Guidance system. 4. One or more sensors (Ex. Radar,
infrared, electro-optical, lasers).
The movable control surfaces are deflected by the commands from guidance system in order to deflect the missile
in flight, to follow the prescribed trajectory to intercept the target.
Active: active guidance missiles are able to guide themselves independently after launch to the target. These
missiles are also called as launch and leave class. These missiles carry the radiation source on board the missile. The
radiation from the interceptor missile is radiated, strikes the target and is reflected back to the missile. Thus the
missile guided itself to the target. (One disadvantage is these missiles are heavier when compared to semi active and
passive).
Semi-active: This missile uses combination of active and passive guidance. A source of radiation is part of the system,
but is not carried in the missile; it is dependent on off-board equipment for guidance commands.
Passive: passive missile utilizes radiation originated by the target, or by some other source not part of the overall
weapon system. Typically, this radiation is the infrared region (Eg. Sidewinder type missiles of the visible region like,
Merverick)
Strategic missiles: They are also known as strategic missiles, which include ballistic missiles,
follow the natural laws of motion under gravity to establish a ballistic trajectory.
ex: Rocket,

TYPES OF MISSILES ON THE BASIS OF MODE OF FIRE:

Broadly missiles are classified as

1. AAM. 2. ASM. 3. SSM 4. SAM

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TYPES OF MISSILES ON THE BASIS OF MODE OF FIRE:

1. An air-to-air missile (AAM) is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying
another aircraft.
Ex: Astra missile of Indian army F-22A Raptor.

2. An air-to-surface missile (ASM) or air-to-ground missile (AGM or ATGM) is a missile

designed to be launched from military aircraft (bombers , attack aircraft, fighter aircraft or
other kinds) and strike ground targets on land, at sea, or both. Ex: Silkworm , US . Storm
Shadow by France.

3. Anti-satellite weapons (ASAT) are designed to incapacitate or destroy satellites for

strategic military purposes. Currently, only the United States, the former Soviet Union,
and the People's Republic of China are known to have developed these weapons.
Ex: Standard Missile - 3 (SM-3).

4. Anti-ship missiles are guided missiles that are designed for use against ships and large
boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea skimming variety, and many use a
combination of inertial guidance and radar homing.
Ex: RGM-84 surface -to-surface Harpoon missile.

5. An anti-submarine missile is a standoff weapon including a rocket designed to rapidly

deliver an explosive warhead or homing torpedo from the launch platform to the vicinity
of a submarine.

6. An anti-tank missile (ATM), anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), anti-tank guided weapon
(ATGW) or anti-armor guided weapon, is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and
destroy heavily-armored military vehicles.
Ex: Nag missile and the Nag missile Carrier Vehicle (NAMICA),Anti-tank Guided missile
developed by DRDO.

7. Asurface-to-air missile (SAM), or ground-to-air missile (GTAM), is a missile designed to

be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-
aircraft system; in modern armed forces missiles have replaced most other forms of
dedicated anti-aircraft weaponry, with the anti-aircraft cannon pushed into niche roles.
Two SA-2 Guideline (S-75 Dvina) missiles in the National Museum of Military History in
Sofia.

8. A surface-to-surface missile (SSM) or ground-to-ground missile (GGM) is a missile

designed to be launched from the ground or the sea and strike targets on land or at sea.
They may be fired from hand-held or vehicle mounted devices, from fixed installations, or
from a ship.
Ex: RPG-7 with warhead detached BGM-71 TOW , variant M220, SABER. U.S. Army
.Cruise missile BrahMos by India.

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India

 Akash: Surface to air missile

 Trishul: Surface to air missile
 Nag : Anti tank missile
 Prithvi-I (SS-150) : surface to surface Ballistic Missile
 Prithvi-II (SS-250) : surface to surface Ballistic Missile
 Prithvi-III (SS-350) : surface to surface Ballistic Missile
 Agni-I MRBM : surface to surface Ballistic Missile
 Agni-II IRBM : surface to surface Ballistic Missile
 Agni-III IRBM :surface to surface Ballistic Missile
 Agni-IV IRBM : surface to surface Ballistic Missile
 Agni-V ICBM : surface to surface Ballistic Missile
 Agni-VI ICBM : surface to surface Ballistic Missile
 K 15 : Submarine launched Ballistic Missile
 K 4 : Submarine launched Ballistic Missile
 K 5[disambiguation needed] : Submarine launched Ballistic Missile
 Shaurya

Brahmos

 BrahMos : Fastest Cruise Missile in the world.

 Brahmos II : Hypersonic missile (under development)
 BrahMos-A : Air launched Cruise Missile.
 BrahMos-M
 BrahMos-NG (under development)
 Astra : Beyond Visual Range Air to Air missile
 Nirbhay : Long Range subsonic cruise missile
 Prahaar : Tactical short range Ballistic Missile
 Helina : Air launched anti tank missile.
 Cannon Launched guided missile (CLGM)
 Barak 8 : Long range surface to air missile
 Pradyumna Ballistic Missile Interceptor : Ballistic Missile interceptor , surface to air missile.
 Ashwin Ballistic Missile Interceptor : Ballistic Missile interceptor / anti aircraft missile (Range = 150 km+).

Ballistic missiles can vary widely in range and use, and are often divided into categories based on range. Various schemes are
used by different countries to categorize the ranges of ballistic missiles:

 Tactical ballistic missile: Range between about 150 km and 300 km

 Battlefield range ballistic missile (BRBM): Range less than 100 km
 Theatre ballistic missile (TBM): Range between 300 km and 3,500 km
 Short-range ballistic missile (SRBM): Range 1,000 km or less
 Medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM): Range between 1,000 km and 3,500 km
 Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) or long-range ballistic missile (LRBM): Range between 3,500 km and 5,500 km
 Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM): Range greater than 5500 km
 Submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM): Launched from ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), all current designs
have intercontinental range.

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PARTS OF A MISSILE

A missile can be divided functionally into 8 sections: radome, guidance, warhead, autopilot, dorsal fins, rocket
motor, steering control and control surfaces. These missile sections are described below.

1. Radome. A housing made of ceramic material similar to the household "Corningware" and located at the front
end ("nose") of the missile. Here are some radomes on the production line . The
radome is non-metallic to act as an electromagnetic(EM) "window" for radar or heat-
seeking EM devices located inside the missile. Radar (Radio Ranging and
Detection), transmits EM pulses that bounce off the target and return to the radar set
to provide target location, direction and speed.

2. Guidance. A system that receives radio information from its launch controller
(a computer, not a human), directing it to launch the missile and calculate its most
efficient path to the target. The Guidance system also transmits all missile functions back to its launch controller
for continuous monitoring of missile subsystem performance.

3. Warhead. A system containing missile internal "homing" radar and an explosive surrounded by thousands of
serrated iron pieces or otherdestroying material, depending on the nature of the anticipated target. As the missile
approaches ("homes in on") the target, its internal radar electronically "sees" and locks onto the target to guide the
missile towards it. Not all missiles have this "homing" radar. If not, its launch control must continuously direct it to
the target.

4. Autopilot. A system that provides missile location, direction, velocity and "attitude" (up, down sideways, etc.)
and the capacity to change its motion via the Control Surfaces (see below). The Autopilot contains an antenna to
receive and transmit information to its home controller. It also contains a battery that supplies electrical power to
the missile electronic and microprocessor components. &bnsp; Transmissions to and from the missile must be
encoded and decoded to prevent electronic spying by other countries' surveillance radars.

5. Dorsal Fins. The fins, along with the missile body, provide surfaces against which air exerts pressure. These
dorsal surfaces are used by the Control Surfaces (see below) to change the direction and attitude of the missile.

6. Rocket Motor. A mixture of solid chemical fuels. When ignited, the chemicals propel the missile from its
launcher into space.

7. Steering Control. A system that electrically changes the Control Surfaces (see below) that change the missile
motion. It reacts to information sent to it by the Autopilot (see above).

8. Control Surfaces. These are four "fins" that act against air resistance to change the direction of the missile.

In summary, a guided missile is a combination of electrical, digital and mechanical parts segregated into sections. Each section has specific
functions that must operate accurately and safely; otherwise, the missile mission is electronically aborted and the missile is destroyed. Internal
controls monitor each function to assure proper coordination among parts. This information is radioed to the launch controller, so that it knows
at all times how well each part of the missile is performing to achieve the missile's ultimate goal of destroying the target.

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Missile Launch & Target-destruction Process.

The missile launching and target destruction process can be divided into seven stages: long-range and short-range surveillance, target
identification, target tracking, missile pre-launch, launch, midcourse guidance, homing, and intercept. Each of these phases is described
below:

1. Surveillance. A systematic search by the launcher (ship, plane, or ground station) radars and more radars for targets in the hemisphere
surrounding it. Another target tracking diagram that starts from search at the lower right and ends with intercept at the upper left.

Note: "Illumination" means that the missile's own internal radar tracks the target. Not all missiles have their own tracking radar.

2. Identification: "Friend or foe?". All commercial and military airplanes and some weapons and personnel have "transponders", which are
receiver- transmitters that receive radio signals on one frequency and return a specific identification (ID) signal on another frequency. When
the target code matches a "friendly" code in the launcher electronic library, no launcher action is taken. However, if the ID matches a "foe"
code, or if there is no response, the missile launcher assumes a "foe" and prepares to destroy the target. Tragedies can occur when a friendly
transponder is inoperable.

3. Pre-launch. The Weapons Officer in charge of missile launch (in airplanes, this would be the pilot) selects a particular missile to attack the
target with a push of a button. The selected missile then automatically tests ("checks") hundreds of its subsystems within milliseconds to
assure their satisfactory operation. Also, the communications link from the launcher to the missile and the missile to the launcher are
automatically tested for satisfactory functioning. If a subsystem or communications link fails after a few attempts, the missile declares itself
inoperable (a "dud") and the Weapons Officer selects another missile. On a ship, the missiles are stored in launch boxes below deck. This
image shows the white launch canister covers behind the gun on the front deck and behind the superstructure on the rear deck of the ship.

4. Launch. After a satisfactory self-test, the missile ignites its rocket motor, which provides the force to propel the missile away from its
platform.

Also, the missile battery is activated soon after launch to provide electrical power to the
missile components. Total elapsed time from the push of the button by the Weapons
Officer to rocket ignition is only a few seconds, depending on the size and complexity of
the missile. The missile rocket motor pushes the missile upwards and outwards from
the missile container.

Note: Once the missile is placed on its launch vehicle and electrically connected to its
control center, it is ready to be fired by the Weapons Officer. (In an airplane, the
Weapons Officer is the pilot.) This is true for encanistered and non-canistered
missiles. There is no missile storage from which the missiles have to be physically moved to the ready position. They are always ready to
launch from their initial position and need merely be activated by the Weapons Officer.

5. Tracking. The launcher "tracking" radar continuously monitors the target, while computers continuously calculate target location, direction
and speed. Human judgment is involved in identification too.

An Army radar control console located inside a truck.

6. Midcourse. During missile flight, target location, direction, and speed are continuously calculated by the launcher radar. This information
is transmitted from the ship (or plane, or truck) to the missile via radar, which adjusts its course to intercept the target. Missile functioning is
continuously transmitted to the launcher via radio.

7. Homing. When the missile approaches target vicinity, it activates its own radar and searches for the target itself, so that launcher radar no
longer is required. The image below is what a target missile (one attacking you) looks like to the attacking missile (one you use to
counterattack the attacker):

Note: Not all missiles have their own tracking radar. If not, then the controller at the launching ship, plane or truck must provide continuous
tracking of the missile to its target.

8. Intercept (target destruction). The missile IR (Infra-Red) "seeker" determines when the target is at the optimum distance for maximum
explosive effect, whereupon it sends a signal to the warhead to detonate. The explosive scatters serrated iron fragments or other destroying
material in all directions. Some of these fragments are expected to impair target functioning. When that occurs, the target is a "kill".

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