A missile is one of the biggest deterrents that a country can have, and India is potent enough to have many variants such as the ballistic and cruise missiles. Due to their similar functions, we often get confused about what each means. Hence, today we tell you the ballistic vs cruise missile differences that you should not just know for the SSB interview but also as an Indian.
What is a Missile?
Keeping up with our belief in building from the basics, we first tell you what a missile is. A missile is a guided projectile, which can be self-propelled (move on its own) or follow a pre-programmed trajectory. It is used for military purposes, particularly combat and deterrence, and should not be confused with a rocket.
India started developing its indigenous missiles with the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme or IGDMP in the 1980s, under the aegis of former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. This is why he is also known as the Missile Man of India. The first in this series was the Agni-I, which paved the way for further developments.
A missile can be of different types, based on what it is designed for. Here are certain common types of missiles before we build on the ballistic vs cruise missile debate:
- Ballistic missiles
- Cruise missiles
- Intercontinental ballistic missiles
- Anti-tank missiles
- Surface-to-air, air-to-air, air-to-surface missiles
- VSHORAD, LRSAM, et cetera
Ballistic Missile
Now, let us start with the ballistic vs cruise missile differences. First, we tell you what a ballistic missile is in simple language. A ballistic missile is a rocket-propelled missile which follows a parabolic trajectory (curved path) to hit the target. These are missiles which travel long distances and function in two to three phases.
Ballistic missiles are the traditional missiles that were built decades ago, and can easily be intercepted. To be sure, these also include the inter-continental ballistic missiles, which can travel a distance of over 5500 km. Today, India possesses the Agni and Prithvi series of ballistic missiles.
Cruise Missile
Next in line for the ballistic vs cruise missile debate is the cruise missile. As against a ballistic missile, a cruise missile is a self-propelled missile which travels parallel to the Earth’s surface and maintains flight using the aerodynamic lift. It is used for short distances and is more precise. Cruise missiles can be of different kinds based on their speed:
- Subsonic, which is slower than the speed of sound.
- Supersonic, which is faster than the speed of sound but less than 5 Mach.
- Hypersonic, which has a speed of 5 Mach or more.
Hence, a cruise missile comes in various variants and is a potent tool for deterring the enemy. India possesses the BrahMos and the Nirbhay cruise missiles.
Ballistic vs Cruise Missile
Finally, we are at the heart of this blog: ballistic vs cruise missile. This is a common question that appears even in the SSB interview, so you better revise the given points. For better understanding, we have tabulated the differences for you:
| Ballistic Missile | Cruise Missile |
| 1. Rocket-propelled | 1. Self-propelled |
| 2. Follows a parabolic path | 2. Follows a parallel path to the Earth’s surface |
| 3. Leaves Earth’s atmosphere & re-enters to hit the target | 3. Does not leave the Earth’s atmosphere |
| 4. Suitable for longer distances, but is less precise | 4. Cannot travel longer distances, but is more precise |
| 5. Can be easily intercepted due to size and trajectory | 5. Interception is difficult due to size and swiftness |
| 6. Travels at a higher speed | 6. Travels at a slower speed (not more than 7-10 Mach as of now) |
Final Thoughts
We hope that we were able to answer your confusion about the ballistic vs cruise missile debate. You can revise these points for your interview, or add new ones for thorough preparation. Remember that each has its advantage and usage, so know these well.
