Missile classifications

Missile systems, in the meaning given in missile, have been classified based on a wide variety of properties, including: flight path type, range, launching platform, propulsion, warhead, and guidance system.

Flight path type

This is really if the weapon payload mainly follows a ballistic arc or not. Consequently there are only two categories:

• Ballistic missiles
• Cruise missiles

The name "cruise missile" is a historical artefact, invented much after the term ballistic missile was established.

As weapon technology developed it has become more common for the weapon payload to perform significant manoeuvrers during its flight, in practice living in a mix between the two classes.

Range

The simplest and most intuitive classification system: How far can the weapon payload go?

Range classes based on Wilson Dunham 2020

Class Name	Distance interval
Close Range	30 km to 300 km
Short Range	300 km to 1000 km
Medium Range	1000 km to 3000 km
Intermediate Range	3000 km to 5500 km
Intercontinental Range	5500 km to 20 000 km

Note that the lower limit of the Close Range class and the upper limit on the Intercontinental Range class are frequently not stated but they probably exist in practice.

For example, a maximum range of 30 km means the missile is competing with conventional tube artillery, which is qualitatively different than a missile that can reach much further than conventional artillery. Similarly, if the missile can go much further than halfway around the world, it can attack the same target from two opposite directions and it is likely people will classify it as some sort of FOBS.