How did Germany’s V-1 and V-2 missiles influence modern missile development?

Germany’s V-1 and V-2 missiles were foundational to modern missile technology, serving as the direct precursors to contemporary cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, respectively.12

The V-1, the first practical cruise missile, introduced the use of pulse-jet propulsion and automated guidance systems, including gyroscopes and barometric altimeters. While its early guidance was imprecise, it established the technical groundwork for later strategic cruise missiles.3

The V-2 was the first long-range guided ballistic missile and the first rocket to reach space. It pioneered essential technologies for modern rocketry, including:1
* Guidance and Control: It utilized three-axis autopilots to manage pitch, yaw, and roll, as well as thrust vector control via vanes in the exhaust nozzle.4
* Liquid Propulsion: It demonstrated the viability of liquid-fueled engines for large-scale missiles.41

Following World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union aggressively competed to capture these technologies and the scientists who developed them, such as Wernher von Braun, through programs like Project Paperclip. This transfer of expertise was critical in shaping the early space exploration and missile programs of both superpowers.15