International Journal of Enhanced Research Publications, ISSN: XXXX-XXXX
Vol. 2 Issue 4, April-2013, pp: (1-4), Available online at: www.erpublications.com
Self-Guided Missiles
Author / Co-Author Names:
Deepak Garg, Student, Electronics and Communication Engineering Department,
PEC University of Technology, Chandigarh, India1,
Sukhwinder Singh, Mentor, Assistant Professor, Electronics and Communication
Engineering Department, PEC University of Technology, Chandigarh, India 2
Abstract: The concept of warfare is revolutionized by the use of modern weapons. The guided missiles use
technology from multiple streams of engineering and applied sciences. The word Missile means “to send” (it
comes from the Latin word "mittere”). This review paper examines different technologies made in this field, their
revolution with time and development in India.
Keywords: flight, launch, propulsion, missile, range, technology, warhead.
Introduction
Missile is a rocket-propelled weapon made to deliver an explosive warhead at high speed with great accuracy. Generally, a
missile is any object thrown at a target with the aim of hitting like a stone thrown at a bird is a missile. The path of missile can
be adjusted during flight, either by automatic control systems or human remote control. Power to the guided missiles is
provided either by rocket engines or by jet propulsion. Such missiles have become the key explosive weapon of modern
warfare and a powerful, and much used, strategic weapon. The missile body is accerlated by means of propulsion. The wellknown Newton's laws of motion are the basis for the technology behind missile propulsion systems. There are number of
different sizes and types of missiles, ranging from small, portable rockets (usually carried by foot soldiers) to large ballistic
missiles with nuclear warheads.
Technology
The most important part of the missile is the guidance system. There are many advantages of guidance system for the
missiles. It helps to detect us whether the missile is flying left or right, above or below our required target. It detects the
deviations/errors and sends signal to the control system to reduce the detected errors to zero.Electronic sensors locate the
target in tactical missiles by detecting energy emitted or reflected from it. For example, infrared sensors are carried by heat
seeking missiles that allow them to “home” onto the hot exhaust of jet engines. Anti-radiation missiles make use of radar
emissions, while one type of optically homing missile may use the images of the target captured by a television camera. After
receiving information through its sensor, the guidance system instructs the control mechanism for course correction through
some type of autopilot contained within the missile. Typically this resembles to a system that works without direct or
continuous human interference.
Almost all missiles have stabilizing fins for proper flight path. In addition, control systems are there in
guided missiles to adjust their flight paths. Aerodynamic are the simplest control systems that make use of movable
vanes/flaps that alter the flow of air past the stabilizing fins. Thrust vectoring is a more complicated system which is used
especially in ballistic missiles that often travel beyond the atmosphere of Earth. In this system, vanes are placed within the
exhaust nozzle to deflect the stream of gases from the rocket engine or by swiveling the whole engine.
Power to missiles is provided by means of an engine, generally either a rocket or a jet engine.Rocket
contains a motor fan which forces it by the air to proceed. Efficiency of rocket engine is less&it is used in the past era.In Jet
engine the chamber in which the fuel burns is called combustion chamber. When the fuel in a solid-propellant rocket is burnt,
the gases that are formed during combustion are forced out the nozzle and the rocket accerlates forward. The fuel is called the
grain and it is often formed with a hollow core for longer burning times.
To deliver an explosive to the target is the sole purpose of the missile. The function of the warhead is to
damage the target. The warhead is located in the missile. There are various types of Warhead that includessub munitions,
nuclear weapons, biological, chemical or radiological weapons or kinetic energy penetrators. The missiles that are used for
testing and training purposes are warhead less.
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International Journal of Enhanced Research Publications, ISSN: XXXX-XXXX
Vol. 2 Issue 4, April-2013, pp: (1-4), Available online at: www.erpublications.com
Fig 1: Nuclear Warheads on Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
Types
Guided missiles can be of various types and ranges. Missiles may be aerodynamic that follow straight line path to the target,
i.e., controlled by aerodynamic surfaces or may be ballistic that are powered during flight and follow a parabolic trajectory.
According to the location of the launch platform and target, tactical guided missiles are generally categorized
into five types, air-to-air, air-to-surface, surface-to-air, anti-ship, and antitank, or assault.
Ballistic missiles are further categorized as short-range (SRBMs) that are effective to 300 miles (480 km),
medium-range (MRBMs) that are effective from 300 to 600 miles (480 to 965 km), intermediate-range (IRBMs) that are
effective from 600 to 3300 miles (965 to 5310 km), and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that are effective to more
than 3300 miles (5310 km).
ICBMs are generally launched from silos, which are reinforced canisters sunk into the ground for protection.
Shorter-range ballistic missiles and some ICBMs are fired from railroad cars or wheeled trailers that gives mobility
protection. “Hot-launched” ballistic missiles are launched directly from their canisters, while “cold-launched” missiles are
ejected from the canisters by compressed gas before the rocket engines ignite. Submarine-launched ballistic missiles
(SLBMs) are ejected in this manner to the ocean surface from tubes within the submerged vessel.
Development In India
R. H. Goddard (an American) did important early research on rockets, but guided missiles were first developed in
Germany in their military form. Germany used V-1 and V-2 missiles against Great Britain and the Low Countries in
World War II. The V-1 was the first cruise missile; followed a straight-line path to its target and it was powered
throughout most of its flight. The V-2 was the world's first ballistic missile. It was powered during only the first part of
its flight i.e. a powered launch followed by an unpowered parabolic trajectory.
Fig 2 : India’s missile tests
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International Journal of Enhanced Research Publications, ISSN: XXXX-XXXX
Vol. 2 Issue 4, April-2013, pp: (1-4), Available online at: www.erpublications.com
From almost two decades, India is continuously developing ballistic and other missiles. Experimental trials of the Prithvi-1
(150 km-range) and Prithvi-2 (250 km-range) ballistic missiles have been completed; both the missiles have been given to the
Indian Army and Air Force respectively. India's Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) announced (in
September 2002) that the naval version of the Prithvi i.e. Dhanush has completed the sea trials and is ready for the use of
naval forces.Between May 1989 and January 2001, five tests were conducted for different versions of intermediate-range
Agni ballistic missile. Limited series production of the Agni-TD-I (1,500 km-range) and Agni-II (2,000-2,500 km-range) has
commenced, and the Indian Army is raising a missile group to take possession of the missiles. DRDO conducted another test
of the single-stage 700-800 km-range version of the Agni in January 2003. This new missile that is likely to be the successor
to the Prithvi-series has been dubbed Agni-I. It will be used in future in a battlefield support role. Indiatested a 3,500-4,000
km-range variant of the Agni (Agni-III) by the end of 2003. 'Development flight-trials' of the supersonic cruise missile
BrahMos/PJ-10 is co-developed by India with Russian assistance.India has also developed sea-launched ballistic missile,
Sagarika. India is not in the members list of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).India rejected a draft of the
International Code of Conduct (ICOC) on ballistic missile proliferation saying that it is discriminatory and interferes with
the peaceful uses of space technology.
Fig 3 : Agni series of India’s missiles
Acknowledgment
I would like to express the deepest appreciation to my Professor Sukhwinder Singh, who has shown the attitude and the
substance of a genius: he continually and persuasively conveyed a spirit of adventure in regard to research and scholarship,
and an excitement in regard to teaching. Without his supervision and constant help this dissertation would not have been
possible
Conclusion
India is also serious about its security purposes. India developed its own ballistic missile Defence shield for protection
from the ballistic missiles of neighbor countries..The year 2013 was an incredible year for India’s missile scientists with
the Defence scientists successfully demonstrating a wide range of missiles from the new, tactical missile, Shourya to the
long range Agni-VI. So we can say that missiles are getting better and more dangerous day by day. Missiles with new
technologies are more accurate and powerful. Also it is a major threat to human kind and can cause a lot of devastation.
But it has become a necessary evil for every country for self-protection..
References
References are important to the reader; therefore, each citation must be complete and correct. There is no editorial check
on references; therefore, an incomplete or wrong reference will be published unless caught by a reviewer or discusser
and will detract from the authority and value of the paper. References should be readily available publications. List only
one reference per reference number. If a reference is available from two sources, each should be listed as a separate
reference. Give all authors' names; do not use et al. Samples of the correct formats for various types of references are
given below. For papers published in translation journals, please give the English citation first, followed by the original
foreign-language citation [6].
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International Journal of Enhanced Research Publications, ISSN: XXXX-XXXX
Vol. 2 Issue 4, April-2013, pp: (1-4), Available online at: www.erpublications.com
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[6] www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/data/Guided%20Missiles.pdf
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[8] Chin, S. S. Missile Configuration Design. McGraw-Hill
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[9] Chalfont, Alun. Star Wars: Suicide or Survival? Weidenfeld
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