{"id":21631,"date":"2026-07-04T11:00:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T05:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=21631"},"modified":"2026-07-04T11:16:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T05:46:21","slug":"ballistic-missiles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/ballistic-missiles\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine&#8217;s Ballistic Missile Strike on Moscow, Cold Launch Technology, SLBMs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict witnessed another significant development after reports indicated that <\/span><b>Ukraine launched its first reported ballistic missile strike targeting Moscow<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. According to available reports, <\/span><b>Russia&#8217;s S-400 Triumph air defence system intercepted and destroyed the incoming missile before it reached its target<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Is a Ballistic Missile?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><b>ballistic missile<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a guided missile that is powered during its initial launch phase and then follows a <\/span><b>ballistic trajectory<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under the influence of gravity until it reaches its target. These missiles can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads and are primarily used for strategic deterrence and long-range military operations.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Key Features of Ballistic Missiles<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Powered only during the <\/span><b>boost phase<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">; after engine burnout, it follows a ballistic path.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Travels at <\/span><b>very high or hypersonic speeds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, making interception difficult.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can carry <\/span><b>conventional, nuclear, chemical, or biological warheads<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (depending on the country&#8217;s doctrine).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Operates in three phases: <\/span><b>Boost Phase, Midcourse Phase, and Terminal Phase<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Used for <\/span><b>strategic deterrence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, battlefield operations, and precision strikes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can be launched from <\/span><b>land-based silos, mobile launchers, aircraft (limited), submarines, and naval vessels<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generally have a much <\/span><b>longer range<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> than cruise missiles.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advanced ballistic missiles may feature <\/span><b>Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and manoeuvrable re-entry vehicles.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Classification of Ballistic Missiles<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ballistic missiles are classified based on their maximum operational range. Each category serves different military and strategic objectives.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"tb-color\" style=\"text-align: center;\" colspan=\"3\"><b>Classification of Ballistic Missiles<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><b>Missile Type<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><b>Range<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><b>Primary Role<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Up to 1,000 km<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tactical battlefield operations<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1,000\u20133,000 km<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regional strategic strikes<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3,000\u20135,500 km<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Long-distance strategic missions<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Above 5,500 km<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intercontinental nuclear deterrence<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><b>Russia&#8217;s S-400 Air Defence System<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/s-400-missile-system\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>S-400<\/b><\/a><b> Triumph<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is Russia&#8217;s advanced long-range air defence missile system designed to intercept a wide range of aerial threats, including aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and certain ballistic missiles. It is regarded as one of the world&#8217;s most capable integrated air defence systems.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Developed by <\/span><b>Russia&#8217;s Almaz-Antey<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> defence company.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maximum engagement range of <\/span><b>up to 400 km<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (depending on missile variant).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can intercept targets at altitudes of <\/span><b>up to 30 km<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capable of engaging <\/span><b>aircraft, stealth fighters, <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/unmanned-aerial-vehicles-uavs\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>UAVs<\/b><\/a><b>, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tracks hundreds of targets simultaneously and can engage multiple targets at once.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uses multiple interceptor missile types for different threat ranges.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Equipped with advanced <\/span><b>phased-array radar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for long-range detection.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provides <\/span><b>layered air defence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by integrating with shorter-range missile systems.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Cold Launch Technology<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Cold Launch Technology<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a missile-launch method in which the missile is first ejected from its launch tube using compressed gas or a gas generator before its main rocket engine ignites. This technique protects the launch platform from the extreme heat and pressure produced by the rocket motor.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Missile is expelled from the launch tube before engine ignition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uses <\/span><b>compressed gas or a gas generator<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> instead of immediate rocket ignition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rocket engine starts only after the missile safely clears the launcher.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significantly reduces the risk of damage to submarines and launch platforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improves crew safety during underwater missile launches.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enhances launch reliability and operational efficiency.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allows multiple missile launches with minimal structural stress.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Has become the <\/span><b>global standard<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for submarine-launched ballistic missiles.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Used by major naval powers, including <\/span><b>India, the United States, Russia, France, and China<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are long-range ballistic missiles launched from specially designed ballistic missile submarines, providing a highly survivable and credible strategic deterrent capability.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Form one of the three components of the <\/span><b>Nuclear Triad<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (land, air, and sea-based nuclear forces).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide a <\/span><b>credible second-strike capability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, ensuring retaliation even after a first attack.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generally launched using <\/span><b>Cold Launch Technology<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where the missile is ejected before its rocket engine ignites.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Capable of carrying <\/span><b>conventional or nuclear warheads<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, depending on mission requirements.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Possess <\/span><b>long operational ranges<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, enabling strikes on distant strategic targets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Submarines can remain <\/span><b>hidden underwater for extended periods<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, making SLBMs difficult to detect and intercept.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enhance a nation&#8217;s <\/span><b>strategic deterrence, maritime security, and nuclear stability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Require advanced <\/span><b>navigation, communication, and underwater launch systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for accurate deployment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Operated by major naval powers, including <\/span><b>India, the United States, Russia, France, China, and the United Kingdom<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ukraine&#8217;s reported ballistic missile strike on Moscow, the role of Russia&#8217;s S-400 air defence system, Cold Launch Technology, Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs),.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":111235,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[8488,6773],"class_list":["post-21631","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-general-studies","tag-ballistic-missile","tag-current-affairs","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21631","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21631"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21631\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":111243,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21631\/revisions\/111243"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/111235"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21631"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21631"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21631"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}