China test-fires intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific
- September 26, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
No Comments
China test-fires intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific
Sub: Sci
Sec: Defence
Context:
- China test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean, which sparked protests from other countries in the region.
- China has stepped up its nuclear development and boosted defence spending in recent years.
Ballistic missile:
- A ballistic missile follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver one or more warheads on a predetermined target.
- Trajectory: The missile is powered by rockets during launch. After the propulsion phase, it follows a free-fall path dictated by gravity and aerodynamic drag, similar to a projectile.
- Range: Ballistic missiles can vary widely in range, from short-range (less than 1,000 km) to intercontinental (over 5,500 km).
- Warheads: They can carry conventional explosives, nuclear, chemical, or biological warheads.
- Shorter range ballistic missiles stay within the Earth’s atmosphere.
- Longer-ranged intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), are launched on a sub-orbital flight trajectory and spend most of their flight out of the atmosphere.
- Ballistic missiles of India: Agni, K-4 (SLBM), Prahaar, Dhanush, and Prithvi.
Types of ballistic missiles based on range:
- Short-range (tactical) ballistic missile (SRBM): less than 1,000 km.
- Medium-range (theatre) ballistic missile (MRBM): 1,000 km to 3,500 km.
- Intermediate-range (Long-Range) ballistic missile (IRBM or LRBM): 3,500 km and 5,500 km.
- Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM): more than 5,500 km.
Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM):
- An intercontinental ballistic missile is a missile with a minimum range of 5,500 kilometres primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery.
- Conventional, chemical, and biological weapons can also be delivered with varying effectiveness, but have never been deployed on ICBMs.
- Countries that have ICBMs: India, Russia, the United States, North Korea, China, Israel, the United Kingdom and France.
- ICBMs are differentiated by having greater range and speed than other ballistic missiles.