Context:
North Korea recently said they tested solid-fuel missile tipped with hypersonic weapon
About Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM):
- Guided missile
- Deliver – mainly nuclear weapons and warhead payloads.
- Range – more than 5000 km
- 3-stage solid fuelled
- Carrying capacity- 1.5 tonnes
- Latest and most advanced variant in terms of navigation and guidance.
- Much faster and have greater range than other types of ballistic missiles.
- Countries with ICBMs in operation – United States, Russia, China, France, India, the United Kingdom, Israel, and North Korea
- E.g.: Agni V, Agni VI (India), RS-28 Sarmat (Russia).
Difference between Solid Fuel and Liquid Fuel Technology:
| Solid Fuel Technology | Liquid Fuel Technology | |
| Nature of fuel | Solid | Liquid |
| Types | Metallic powders(aluminium), Wood, Charcoal, Peat, Coal, Dry dun etc. | Petroleum, Natural gas , Biofuels, kerosene, alcohol, hydrazine and its derivatives, and liquid hydrogen |
| Oxidiser | Ammonium perchlorate | Nitric acid, nitrogen tetroxide, liquid oxygen, and liquid fluorine |
| Principle | Fuel and oxidiser are bound together by a hard rubbery material and packed into a metal casing | The fuel and oxidizer are stored separately, then later combined and ignited. |
| Kinetic Energy | Low | High |
| Advantages | Do not need to be fuelled immediately ahead of launch Storage for an extended period without degrading or breaking down | Provide greater propulsive thrust |
| Disadvantages | High ashes on burningHandling expenses are high | Require more complex technology and extra weight |
About Cryogenic engine:
- Last stage of space launch vehicles.
- Cryogenics – the study of the production and behaviour of materials at extremely low temperatures (below -150 degree centigrade) to lift and place the heavier objects in space.
- Technically more complex system compared to solid or liquid propellant
- Liquefied gases at very low temperature
- Need insulated containers
- No air intake is required
- Advantages-
- More efficient and provides more thrust
- Relatively environment friendly, non- toxic and non-corrosive
- Disadvantages –
- Overall cost of propellants relatively high
- Highly reactive gases
- India – 6th country apart USA, Russia, France, Japan, China to have this technology.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.
2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
The statement 1 is not correct:
Cruise missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while ballistic missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.
BrahMos is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while Agni-V is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.
