Ballistics: The Study of Projectiles
Ballistics is a branch of mechanics that studies the launching, behavior, flight, and consequences of projectiles such as bullets, rockets, and unguided bombs. Ballistics is intended to accelerate projectiles to attain the desired performance. A missile is a weapon or an object that is specifically designed to be fired or launched at a target. It is self-propelled, and the majority of them have engines. Missiles are made up of four system components: a missile guidance system, a flying system, a warhead, and an engine (Bejeskyp 29).
Various Types of Missiles
They are intended to be used for a variety of purposes, including air-to-air missiles, anti-satellite weapons, surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, and air-to-surface missiles. Ballistic missiles are one of the examples of air-to-surface missiles. Air-to-surface missiles are designed in such a way that the target is on the sea or mainland (Bejeskyp 29).
The Propulsion and Guidance of Air-to-Surface Missiles
The most common air-to-surface missiles propulsion systems are rocket motors and jet engines. Air-to-surface missiles guidance is mainly through four signals; infrared guidance, satellite guidance, optical guidance or laser guidance.
Projectile Motion and Gravity
The type of guidance is dependent on the type of target, for example, objects like ships are detected through active radar or passive radar homing. Ballistic missile uses a projectile motion, a form of motion in which when an object or a particle is thrown near the surface of the earth it follows a curved path under the influence of gravity. In physics, the effects air resistance is assumed to be negligible and the only force acting is gravity which it causes downward acceleration.
Historical Background: The Development of Ballistic Missiles
A pioneer ballistic missile was developed by the Nazi Germany known as the V-2 rocket in the period between the 1930s and 1940s. It was under the direction of the German Werhner von Braun. The first launch was very successful and it was done on October 3 1942. The first operation was done against the Paris in France on 6th September 1944 (Bradford 1243).
The Rise of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
Two days later a similar attack was made on London, England. At the end of the Second World War, it was estimated that more than 2800 V-2 rockets had been launched. It is recorded that the first intercontinental ballistic missile was R-7 Semyorka, which is a Soviet missile during the Cold-War. R-7 made a record of 28-launches in 4 years, between 1957 and 1961.
Characteristics and Classification of Ballistic Missiles
A ballistic missile is guided during some brief period of flight which is powered and the majority of its trajectory is unpowered and controlled by gravity. Ballistic missiles are mostly launched from fixed sites or vehicles aircrafts, submarines or ships. Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) are made up of three portions; the powered flight portion, the free-light, and the re-entry phase. The latter is where missiles enter the atmosphere of the earth. The powered flight portion is very short and lasts between seconds and minutes. When the ballistic missile is in space, no more propulsive force is provided, and the missile enters the free-flight mode. Ballistic missiles cover short distances, for it to cover larger and longer distances they are launched into a high sub-orbital spaceflight.
Classification Based on Range and Throw-weight
Ballistic missiles vary in range and their use and most are divided into subgroups based on range such as; air-launched ballistic missile, tactical ballistic missile, intermediate-range ballistic missile, intercontinental ballistic missile, submarine-launched ballistic missile. The measure of effective weight of ballistic missile carrying capacity of launch vehicle is known as the throw-weight. Throw-weight is the total weight of a missile's warheads, reentry vehicles, self-contained dispensing mechanisms, missile guidance systems, and penetration aids except the launch rocket booster and the launch fuel (Green 429). Throw-weight is calculated using maximum projectile motion from one point on the surface of the earth to another. An optimal projectile motion maximizes the total payload by using the available impulse of the missile.
Classification Based on Propulsion and Warhead
Interballistic missiles are classified according to the type, the mode used to set it up, the range, propulsion, and the systems that guide it. For the ballistic missile type, there are several modes of launching it, these are surface to surface missile which is launched from a fixed installation. Since the platform from where it is launched is stationary, the missile is fired by an explosive charge. The other mode of launching the ballistic missile is the surface to air missile, which is made to destroy targets in the air for example helicopters. They are mostly used to defend attacks from the aerial view by the enemy. There is also surface [coast]-sea missile which is made to be set up from land to sea targets in the sea. The anti-tank missile is another mode of establishment of a ballistic missile. It is, however, made to destroy heavily armored tanks or vehicles. This missile could be established from a shoulder-mounted launcher, a chopper or an aircraft.
Classification Based on Range, Propulsion, and Guidance
The sea to surface is set up from the sea and designed to destroy targets on land. There is also the sea to sea missile which is made to be established from a ship to another sea-based target or another ship. The air to air missile is set up from an aircraft to another air-based target say an enemy in another aircraft in the air (McGinnis 1175). In air to surface missile the missile is set up and launched from an air-based aircraft and set to destroy a target on either land or sea. They are guided by GPS, laser guidance, etc., depending on the type of target.
Classification Based on Propulsion and Warhead
The ballistic missile is also classified based on the range. The range is extended between various specified limits. Therefore, the maximum range of the missiles is categorized as follows, there is the short-range missile, the missile range, the intermediate range, and the intercontinental ballistic missiles. The ballistic missile is also classified according to the propulsion basis. There is the liquid propulsion which uses liquid as fuel. Storing such missiles is, however, very difficult. Setting up the missile also takes a lot of time. In the solid propulsion, solid fuel is used. Storing of such missile is easy unlike the liquid fuel missile.
Classification Based on Propulsion
In the highbred propulsion, there are two stages. There is the solid and liquid propulsion. Due to this, it covers the disadvantages of the solid and liquid propulsion and has the advantages of the two propulsions. There is also the cryogenic propellants which are gases that are liquefied and kept at cool temperatures. Liquid hydrogen is most often used as fuel while the liquid oxygen is used as an oxidizer. In the scramjet hydrogen is used as fuel. In the ramjet, which is an engine without turbines, fuel is put in and ignited (Williams 73). The ramjet engine, however, cannot run an airplane at zero speed to supersonic speeds.
Classification Based on Warhead and Guidance System
Another classification area of the ballistic missile is on the basis of warhead, which is the forward section or section or head of a self-propelled missile, like the ballistic missile. Are of two categories i.e. the strategic warhead and the conventional warhead. The strategic one, it is generally set up for mass and complete destruction. The conventional warhead, on the other hand, has an explosive of very high energy and is detonated for it to explode. The ballistic missile is also classified according to the system that guides it. There is the wire guidance system where the command signal passes via wires. The command guidance system, which is associated with tracking the projectile from the setup site and transmitting commands by radar, radio, etc. There is also the terrarium comparison guidance system, the command guidance system, the terrain comparison guidance system, the terrestrial guidance system, inertial guidance system beam rider guidance system, laser guidance system, and GPS guidance system.
International Laws and Ballistic Missiles
The ballistic missiles have got some advantages over other missiles. For example, they are able to guide and direct themselves in the desired direction and hit the required target. Ballistic missiles are also fast and easy to detect with specific sensors. Due to their speed, they hit the desired target in a few minutes even when the target is far away, like hundreds of miles away. Ballistic missiles are very difficult to deter from their targets. Once launched, they will easily destroy the desired target within a very short period of time.
The Role of International Law in Regulating Ballistic Missiles
National laws are set of body of legal rules that regulate the conduct of sovereign States in relation to one another. It also regulates the duties and rights of the citizens of sovereign states towards the citizens of other sovereign states. The set laws are established based on charters, agreements compromises, memorandums, treaties, tribunals, accords, conventions, and understandings. The international law has limited applicability although it has played a critical role over a period of years in developing a system of procedures, rules, and regulations in areas such as human rights, air, seas, land, and outer space where one state's existence impinges the rights and freedoms of other citizens in another state.
Limitations of the International Court of Justice
The UN general assembly is entrusted and mandated in developing international law. The Judicial arm of the United Nation called the 'The Statute of International Court of Justice' has no power to enforce a law and therefore it cannot adjudicate cases tabled before it. This is because of various reasons extracted from the Article 38(1) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice. The law requires the Court to apply among other things which the member states have agreed upon. First, the Court ought to apply international custom, as evidence of a general practice accepted as per the law. Second, the international custom, as evidence of a general or particular, establishing rules expressly known to the contesting states. Third, the general principles of law recognized by civilized nations, it is not recognized as a World Law but law between contesting sovereign republic states. Each sovereign state can either decide which law it will adhere to or not.
Crimes Against Peace and International Law
As per international law, some crimes are punishable such as crimes against peace from one state which affect the other state which is part of the agreed laws. War-crimes that violate the life of people in that state or the neighboring sovereign states. Crimes against humanity such as murder, deportation, enslavement other inhuman acts, extermination persecutions on political, racial or religious ground. The above crimes are punished by international laws as agreed among the member states.
International Agreements on Nuclear Weapons
On the ballistic state on international war, nations with nuclear weapons came together and agreed upon some terms on how to operate while in possession of such weapons. The United States together with the Soviet Union agreed on terms of engagement, and the rules nations with nuclear weapons have to abide by in order to avoid future nuclear war between nations with ballistic missiles. This agreement was signed during the summit held in Moscow in the year 1988. These rules are binding to the nations in possession of these weapons because they have to abide by them. International laws apply to the specific countries with nuclear weapons.
The Hague Code of Conduct and Ballistic Missiles
This agreement is able to sensitize these nations that are in possession of nuclear weapons on how to use these weapons. The ballistic missile having in mind the destruction and loss of life it can bring when used, the nations in possession are instructed to use them only when necessary and after being approved by representatives from other nations. If any nation in possession of the weapon decides to use it without authorization from other nations then they can attract hefty penalties as per international laws and might even be restricted from possessing any of these weapons.
Annual Meetings and Transparency
This includes even when carrying out missile tests. Here, the nations to carry out these tests inform other nations and are required to provide the percentage of damage expected when carrying out those nuclear tests. Until it is approved by the rest of the nations, the missile test cannot take place.
The Hague Code of Conduct
There is also the Hague Code of Conduct which was adopted at a conference held on November 2002. This code of conduct was agreed upon in order to curb ballistic missile proliferation. This Hague Code of Conduct is put in place in order to make the nations in possession of these nuclear weapons exercise caution and maximum restraint in testing, deploying or even developing such weapons. This code of conduct, however, does not limit the membership of other states. This means other nations are allowed to own them as long as they abide by the international laws that are put in place to guide the use of ballistic missiles.
Annual Meetings to Discuss Measures
The Hague Code of Conduct requires nations to be transparent and on an annual basis to declare and give pre-launch notifications regarding ballistic missiles and space launch programs in their possession. In a meeting held on the second and third of June 2016, the fifteenth meeting of the nations abiding to the Hague Code of Conduct was held in Vienna. The committee consisted of 72 delegates who agreed Kazakhstan will eventually replace Canada as the chair for the 2016-2017. These meetings are carried out yearly to discuss measures on how to universalize the code.
Works Cited
Bejesky, Robert. “Politico-International Law.” Loy. L. Rev. vol. 57, 2011, p. 29.
Bradford, William. “In the Minds of Men: A Theory of Compliance with the Laws of War.” Ariz. St. LJ, vol. 36, 2014, p. 1243.
Green, James A. “Docking the Caroline: Understanding the Relevance of the Formula in Contemporary Customary International Law Concerning Self-Defense.” Cardozo J. Int’l & Comp. L., vol. 14, 2016, p. 429.
McGinnis, John O., and Illya Somin. “Should International Law be Part of Our Law.” Stan. L. Rev., vol. 59, 2015, p.1175.
Williams, Andrew S. “The Interception of Civil Aircraft over the High Seas in the Global War on Terror.” AFL Rev., vol. 59, 2012, p. 73.
