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Article
Guided missile
Article By:
Yanushevsky, Rafael Research & Technology Consulting, Bethesda, Maryland.
Last reviewed:July 2022
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.302200
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- Guided missile, published June 2021:Download PDF
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A space-traversing unmanned vehicle which contains the means for controlling its flight path and that delivers an explosive warhead with high accuracy. Various kinds of missiles are guided in the sense that they can aerodynamically adjust after launch in order to increase the chances of successfully reaching and detonating at their target. A missile that lacks guidance of this sort—that is, an unguided missile—may alternatively be termed a rocket. A guided missile's structure generally includes a propulsion section, a guidance section, a control section, and a warhead section. Missiles with guidance were developed during the 20th century and continue to be used in combat theaters (Fig. 1). See also: Ballistic missile; Naval weapon; Rocket
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