UPSC Articles
Ballistic missiles
Part of: Prelims and GS-II – International Relations and GS-III Defence and security
Context Iran displayed three ballistic missiles recently.
- The missiles — known as Dezful, Qiam and Zolfaghar — have official ranges of up to 1,000 km and are already-known models
Ballistic missile
- Aa ballistic missile follows a ballistic trajectory (projectile motion) to deliver one or more warheads on a predetermined target.
- Short-range ballistic missiles stay within the Earth’s atmosphere, while intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are launched on a sub-orbital trajectory.
- It is a rocket-propelled self-guided strategic-weapons system
- It can carry conventional high explosives as well as chemical, biological, or nuclear munitions.
- The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC), is a political initiative aimed at globally curbing ballistic missile proliferation.
- India is a signatory to this convention.
- The voluntary Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) aims to limit the spread of ballistic missiles and other unmanned delivery systems that could be used for chemical, biological, and nuclear attacks.
- India has joined the MTCR.
Some of India’s Ballistic Missiles:
- Agni P missile
- Shaurya missile
- Prithvi missile
- Dhanush, etc.
