Currently, the world is populated with a wide range of long-established missile variants in service. While these enormously powerful weapons are poised for their next assignments, ever more powerful designs are either in the planning stages or are being realized with the implementation of recent high budget programs. Fascinating, too, are the unexpected alignments between government agencies whose technological giants are immersed in collaborative programs. One example would be the recent work on BrahMos shared by India and Russia. The recent parades of military strength coupled with displays of new weaponry conducted in Russia, North Korea, India, China and Iran have military watchers noting that it’s impossible to know exactly what will emerge next. Here’s a list of some of the world’s most powerful missiles simultaneously admired and feared right now.





1. SS-N-30
Russian warships let fly 26 of these cruise missiles on October 7, 2017. They were sent to Syrian rebel targets located 1,000 miles from the warships located in the Caspian Sea. The Pentagon provided the name for these almost unknown missiles, as they were a surprise even to those who keep a regular, well-trained eye on Russian and its military. The attack is being viewed as a kind of calling card to the rest of the world that Russia’s new missiles have taken their place amongst the most advanced in existence. The missiles completed the objectives of striking 11 targets including a terrorist training camp, command centers, armament, oil, and munitions storage, and ammunition and explosive producing plants. Though exact statistics are obviously unavailable, the missiles demonstrated that they are similar to the Tomahawks used in combat successfully by Great Britain and the United States.



2. LGM-30 Minuteman III ICBM
This intercontinental ballistic missile is one part of the United States’ strategic deterrent forces. Its name describes its function:

The letter “L” is the way the Defense Department designates missiles which are launched from a hardened silo.
The letter “G” stands for a surface attack.
The letter “M” means it is a guided missile.
Minuteman missiles have existed since the late 1950s. These weapons provide quick reactions, inertial guidance, high reliability, high accuracy, and significant, long distance target capabilities. As of 2015, more than 450 Minuteman III missiles are in force in Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota. Since the first Minuteman I missile was deployed in the 1960s, the series has been continuously upgraded and enhanced. Created by Boeing Company, these missiles feature a minimum of:

Three solid-propellant rocket motors with three stages of ATKs
Three stages of chemical systems thrust, including 203,158 pounds in the first stage, 60,793 pounds in the second stage, and 35,086 pounds in the third stage
A range of more than 6,000 miles
Speeds of approximately 15,000 mph



3. RS-28 Sarmat “Satan 2”
This warhead has the capability to destroy targets flying across the North and the South Poles. It was first unveiled on the website of Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau in 2016. Its range is expected to exceed 6,800 miles, with the capability of destroying areas of the earth comparable in size to France or Texas. Yuri Bosiov, Russian Deputy Defense Minister announced this news to TASS, the Russian state news agency. The warhead is one successor the R-36M Voyevoda, and news of its existence was released just after Moscow made the announcement that it has suspended the arms reduction agreement it has held with the United States. The new Satan 2 replaces the SS-19 Satan missiles, and solidifies fears that a world without nuclear weapons is a dream which has come to an end.



4. DF-41
This is China’s most deadly intercontinental ballistic missile. In fact, it is one of the world’s deadliest. Though exact specifications are not yet known, it is believed that it was entered into use in 2016 or 2017. Its range is estimated to be 12,000 kilometers, which gives it the capability to target all areas of Europe, Russia, and the United States, reaching any of these countries within a mere 20 to 25 minutes. It carries solid fuel and up to 10 MIRVs- the Multiple Independently-targetable Reentry Vehicles which add to its overall power. Making it even more accurate is the internal BeiDou Chinese satellite navigation system. The missile is carried into launch position by the Tian HTF5980 cross country vehicle with a 16 X 16 configured, special wheeled chassis.



5. Tomahawk Cruise Missile
The Tomahawk was first deployed in 1984. It was named for the axe used by Native Americans. It is subsonic cruise missile designed for long-range flight to strike land targets which are either heavily defended or of high value. It travels at approximately 550mph and has a range of about 1,500 miles. The missile can be piloted to take evasive routes using guidance systems tailored to specific missions. Its official title is Tomahawk Land Attack Missile or TLAM. It has been successfully launched from both US and UK submarines and US Navy surface ships. There are several variants of the Tomahawk, with various enhancements. The most recent are capable of being re-programmed during flight using satellite communications to program alternate targets or to re-direct using GPS coordinates. It carries a nuclear warhead, and depending on the model, additional bomblets.


6. UGM-133 Trident II
Lockheed Martin built this submarine-launched ballistic missile. It is deployed by both the United States and United Kingdom navies. It has been in service since 1990, though variants have added greater payloads, longer range and increased accuracy since the missile was first developed. These improvements have given it the ability to function as one of the most efficient first strike weapons. It launches within seconds after the command is given to breach the water surface and begin flight toward its target. The Trident II is comprised of three solid-fuel rocket motors which ignite in sequence to propel the rocket forward. It has a range of 4,230 nautical miles and can receive GPS updates via its MK 6 Astro-inertial guidance system. It has carried a range of warheads with varying payloads, and will receive a new warhead design for future engagements.



7. Jericho III
This intercontinental ballistic missile is the first for Israel. It was preceded by the short-range Jericho I and the medium-range Jericho II. There is some indication that it shares technology with the space launch vehicle known as Shavit. The Jericho missiles have evolved over time, and the current version has a warhead that is guided by radar and having a substantial range. In fact, it encompasses the entirety of Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. It also can reach most of North Oceania, and North and South America. For this reason, it allows a nuclear warhead launch into most any location on Earth, giving the Israel Defense Forces considerable clout. It has a significant velocity of reentry, and this makes it immune to the missile defense systems currently in place on Earth. The silos which house the Jericho III are thought to be impervious to almost any nuclear attack.



8. Agni Missiles I-VI
This family of long range, nuclear, surface to surface ballistic weapons are named after the Hindu god of fire. The Agni I, II, and III are already in service. The Agni IV as completed its trials as of January 2017, and the Agni V should enter service within the Indian Army sometime from 2017 to 2018. The missiles represent variants in range, payload, and number of rocket stages. The Agni III is remarkably accurate and considered worldwide to be one of the most accurate in the intermediate range class. The series use some of the most advanced navigation and control technology; developed indigenously.


9. M51
This French SLBM submarine missile is the only ICBM which France has, and as such, it is significant to their military strike force. It is a variant of less powerful predecessors, upgraded to a range of 8,000 kilometers. The three-stage solid-propellant weapon can attack targets all around the globe with deadly results. When launched, the missile powers upwards for several hundred kilometers to launch from six to ten MIRVs. Each of these has a thermonuclear warhead of 107 kilotons, which ultimately speed down to their targets at Mach 25, finally deploying penetration aids which ensure success. It takes just 20 minutes to travel 4,500 km, allowing no response time for intended targets.


10. BGM-71 TOW 2B
This newest version flies to a position over a tank and fires projectiles into the tank, piercing its top armor. Previous versions are wired, but this newest one is wireless. The TOW can deploy from any vehicle on the ground. Raytheon took in orders totaling more than a half-billion dollars in September 2017 to build these wireless, radio-controlled weapons, which are the precision anti-armor weapons used by more than 40 armed forces internationally today.

This is the designation for the classic missile system in use since 1970 by American forces. TOW means:

Tube launched
Optically tracked
Wire guided


HONORABLE MENTION

And my personal favorite


The AGM-114 Hellfire missile

Hellfire missile was created to give America an advantage against the Soviet military’s massive tank formations.
But now the missile is used as everything from an anti-personnel weapon to bunker buster.
Hellfire missile has a 'kill radius' of 50 feet (15 metres) and a 'wounding radius' of 65 feet (20 metres); the GBU-12 Paveway II has a 'casualty radius' of between 200 and 300 feet (within which 50 per cent of people will be killed).
It’s powerful enough to be overkill, literally, when used in drone strikes. The Hellfire’s warhead weighs between 18–20 lbs.

For comparison:

Hand grenades usually weigh less than 1 lb. and have less than 0.5 lbs of explosive.
An RPG-7’s warhead runs between 4–10 lbs, depending on type.
A Tomahawk missile has a 1,000 lb. warhead.
You can look at Hellfire strikes online and see how powerful they are. The US has been looking at using something less powerful for drone strikes, with a much smaller warhead, something closer to a hand grenade, so that fewer innocent bystanders are killed. The Hellfire was designed to destroy main battle tanks with a powerful 20 lb. shaped charge warhead. It was adopted/adapted for drone strike duty with a more conventional blast warhead, but it wasn’t designed for that mission.


Cc Mynd44 OAM4J

The world is not safe o

capatainrambo:

Bros wetin be dis na

Men designing weapon to kill their selves.

AlphaLover:


Bros wetin be dis na

our intercontinental, all reaching ballistic missile. Small but mighty

capatainrambo:
our intercontinental, all reaching ballistic missile. Small but mighty

Hehehehe

Why we nor use am on Bokoharam?

The word is not safe anymore... All these for human being...... Indeed, this will leads to human and global annihilation!

capatainrambo:
our intercontinental, all reaching ballistic missile. Small but mighty

God!!! Hahahhahahaha. Una no go kill person. See how I'm laughing like mad man....


Wetin be this

reccy:


God!!! Hahahhahahaha. Una no go kill person. See how I'm laughing like mad man....


Wetin be this

Guy the tin tire me sef

Nigerian Air force doesn't own any of these missles systems o

No wonder we can't win Bokoharam

See that israeli missle, it can hit anywhere on earth just imagine that

AlphaLover:


Guy the middle.tire me sef

Nigerian Air force doesn't own any of these missles systems o

No wonder we can't win Bokoharam

See that israeli missle, it can hit anywhere on earth just imagine that

Is it that bad? It is sad that while sane and reasonable countries are making and doing impossible, we are topping and breaking every record of corruption.

It is regretful and at the same time, sad when you realized that you are a Nigerian.

reccy:


Is it that bad? It is sad that while sane and reasonable countries are making and doing impossible, we are topping and breaking every record of corruption.

It is regretful and at the same time, sad when you realized that you are a Nigerian.

My man na so we see am o

AlphaLover:


Guy the tin tire me sef

Nigerian Air force doesn't own any of these missles systems o

No wonder we can't win Bokoharam

See that israeli missle, it can hit anywhere on earth just imagine that

So the US with its missle systems have they defeated the taliban.. Or isreal have they defeated Hezbollah

: our intercontinental, all reaching ballistic missile. Small but mighty HeheheheWhy we nor use am on Bokoharam?

Nice post

marvin906:




So the US with its missle systems have they defeated the taliban.. Or isreal have they defeated Hezbollah

Bros are you not an adult ? That one is politics.. same reason we haven't defeated Bokoharam. Some people are benefiting from the war

So you think it would take the US 24 hours to defeat taliban if they truly wanted to ?

Grow up

AlphaLover:


Bros are you not an adult ? That one is politics.. same reason we haven't defeated Bokoharam. Some people are benefiting from the war

So you think it would take the US 24 hours to defeat taliban if they truly wanted to ?

Grow up

24 hours to defeat the taliban..
You don't say

marvin906:





24 hours to defeat the taliban..
You don't say

Bro think on it

Who gets all the road and construction work in Afghanistan? US private military contractors , who supplies Afghanistan government weapons and aid US private construction companies

Bro who gets to mine uranium and platinum from Afghanistan? US private construction companies

This conflict is paying them.

A friend who is a major came to my place in Abuja and showed me pictures of his new home .. he said before Bokoharam he wouldn't have been able to build these buildings except he got a juicy posting so he prays Bokoharam should not stop .

That's the reality

AlphaLover:


Bro think on it

Who gets all the road and construction work in Afghanistan? US private military contractors , who supplies Afghanistan government weapons and aid US private construction companies

Bro who gets to mine uranium and platinum from Afghanistan? US private construction companies

This conflict is paying them.

A friend who is a major came to my place in Abuja and showed me pictures of his new home .. he said before Bokoharam he wouldn't have been able to build these buildings except he got a juicy posting so he prays Bokoharam should not stop .

That's the reality

Am not concerned about all these things you wrote..
War is a business everywhere.

Your assertion that the US will wipe out the taliban in a day is funny

marvin906:




Am not concerned about all these things you wrote..
War is a business everywhere.

Your assertion that the US will wipe out the taliban in a day is funny

No it is a fact

If truly they had no benefit and it was a matter of who is the boss

AlphaLover:
No it is a fact
If truly they had no benefit and it was a matter of who is the boss

So, why haven't isreal wiped Hezbollah out

marvin906:



So, why haven't isreal wiped Hezbollah out

That is left for those two to answer

Don't argue for the sake of based on your personal opinions bros

I no be your babe

AlphaLover:

That is left for those two to answer
Don't argue for the sake of based on your personal opinions bros
I no be your babe

Redirecting my question.. Classic

marvin906:



Redirecting my question..
Classic

Aha

Kai this forum is full of nitwits oh

Why do alot of people here lack the mental capabilities to just engage in an intellectual argument of leave off without smart arse remarks ?

Kai

AlphaLover:


Aha

Kai this forum is full of nitwits oh

Why do alot of people here lack the mental capabilities to just engage in an intellectual argument of leave off without smart arse remarks ?

Kai

If you say so

marvin906:




If you say so

Done and dusted

AlphaLover:

Done and dusted

Ok

The winner will be who strikes first.

Science is slavery.

flamingREED:
The winner will be who strikes first.

Science is slavery.

How do you mean bro?

Do you know the missle defense systems out there ?

It has nothing to do with who strikes first

AlphaLover:


How do you mean bro?

Do you know the missle defense systems out there ?

It has nothing to do with who strikes first

The systems aren't always successful.

flamingREED:


The systems aren't always successful.

What?

Abeg don't say this in public

AlphaLover:

What?
Abeg don't say this in public

Your really ignorant