What are Exo-Atmospheric Missiles?

About Exo-Atmospheric missiles

• These are also known as anti-ballistic missiles (ABMs).
  Features
  • These are surface-to-air missiles designed to counter incoming ballistic missiles.
  • They are designed to intercept and destroy any type of ballistic threat during the mid-course or terminal phase of their trajectory.
  • However, they are specifically designed to counter Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). The anti-ballistic missiles operate beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.
  • The exo-atmospheric interceptors or anti-ballistic missiles are equipped with advanced technology including infrared sensors and radar systems so that they can detect and track incoming ballistic missiles and terminate them.
  • These missiles travel at a hypersonic speed advanced and sophisticated guidance missile systems to accurately manoeuvre and intercept targets travelling at very high speeds.
  • These missiles are guided by an inertial navigation system that is updated during flight using contour maps stored in the system’s computerized memory.
  • The anti-ballistic missiles use a three-stage solid rocket booster to propel itself out of Earth’s atmosphere at near-hypersonic speed. After reaching into space, the ABM activates its sophisticated sensors to identify and track the incoming target. They have an inbuilt rocket motor to navigate towards the target with exceptional accuracy.

Q1: What is a ballistic missile?

These 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 warheads.

Source: Iran-Israel crisis: Tel Aviv claims air-defence system stopped ‘99% of missiles’. What is Exo-Atmospheric Interception?

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