Cruise missile

A cruise missile is a Missile with long range (several hundred kilometers), drawn towards a terrestrial or naval target indicated in advance which it reaches while flying at high speed and very low altitude.

History

Historically, the first cruise missile is the V1 that the German S launched in mass in direction of the England starting from 1944.

After the Second world war, the two main actors of the Cold war (the USSR and the United States) developed their personal programs of cruise missiles, unquestionable able to carry a nuclear Charge.

The first American system, the missile Matador, was deployed as from 1954.

Characteristics

The cruise missiles can be launched since a fixed infrastructure on the ground, of a terrestrial vehicle, a Warship, of a Sous-marin or a bomber.

Their propulsion is ensured by a Turboréacteur, a Statoréacteur or a Moteur-fusée. Their speed is generally between 800 km/h and 1000 km/h. The the USSR developed several missiles Supersonique S. Their range can exceed 3000 km for largest.

Once the fired missile, it is generally completely autonomous, it joined its target thanks to a system of guidance Inertie L, topographic or satellite.

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