ballistic missile
ballistic missile, a rocket-propelled self-guided strategic-weapons system that follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver a payload from its launch site to a predetermined target. Ballistic missiles can carry conventional high explosives as well as chemical, biological, or nuclear munitions. They can be launched from aircraft, ships, and submarines in addition to land-based silos and mobile platforms (see rocket and missile system: Ballistic missiles).
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This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn.
Citation Information
Article Title:
ballistic missile
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
20 March 2026
Access Date:
November 13, 2026