Description
Missile systems are self-guided missiles that reach their targets through the air or space. A suborbital trajectory is followed by a ballistic missile. Missiles are frequently categorized according to the type of fuel they use: liquid or solid propellants. Solid-fuel missiles require shorter maintenance and preparation time than liquid-fuel missiles because the fuel and oxidizer are combined in solid-fuel missiles.
Short-range ballistic missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles, and Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are the general classifications of ballistic missiles. The missile that can travel less than 1,000 kilometers is considered to be short-range ballistic missiles. The medium-range missiles can travel between 1,000 to 3,000 kilometers, and for the Intercontinental ballistic missiles, the minimum range should be 5,500 kilometers.
The first design for Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles was born out of the V-2 rocket program of Nazi Germany. Wernher von Braun and his team designed the liquid-fueled V2. It was widely used by Nazi Germany from mid-1944 until March 1945 to attack Belgian and British cities, particularly London and Antwerp. An intercontinental ballistic missile can travel a long way around the Earth to reach its intended target. These are basically designed for nuclear weapons delivery delivering one or more thermonuclear warheads.
R-36M (SS-18 Satan), R-29RMU Sineva (RSM-54), and RT-2UTTKh Topol-M, are some of the long-range missile developed by Russia. Dongfeng-41 (DF-41, CSS-X-10), DongFeng 5A (DF-5A), and DongFeng 31 A (DF-31A) are developed by China. US-developed UGM-133 Trident II (Trident D5), and Minuteman-III (LGM-30G). These are some of the longest-range ICBMs. Mostly, the ICBMs require missile batteries to launch their missiles.
A missile battery typically consists of missile launchers, and each launcher is equipped with tracking systems and missile tubes. These missile tubes comprise the warheads.
How do investments and developments of ICBMs impact the missile battery market industry globally?
Countries are now developing and testing new and upgraded intercontinental ballistic missiles, which may fuel the expansion of the missile defense battery market growth, due to their benefits of high precision at longer ranges compared to small, medium, and intermediate-range missiles.
Countries including Russia and the United States are expanding their missile arsenals in response to rising border threats, and national security concerns. They’re also focusing on upgrading their existing missiles. According to FY22 budget justification documents, the US Army plans to launch its first mobile medium-range missile battery after September 2023, with three more batteries. In 2021, the U.S. Army had launched the first hypersonic missile battery at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. It includes two trucks, each truck designed to transport two missiles, as well as a military battery operations center.
Moreover, to resist incursions into Chinese territory by aircraft and possible long-range strike weapons, China is significantly investing in ballistic missile-related technologies. North Korean ballistic missile developments are also a major source of missile purchase for Japan and South Korea.
Furthermore, North Korea and India have joined the weapons race and are concentrating their efforts on constructing new and more deadly ICBMs. For instance, in 2017, North Korea developed the hwasong-15 ICBM. It is capable of reaching all of the United States’ mainlands. North Korea claims that the missile can fly at an altitude of roughly 4475 kilometers and travel 950 kilometers downrange in 53 minutes. In October 2020, again North Korea launched a new ballistic missile-like hwasong-15. It is not yet tested or named. It could possibly allow for multiple warheads. It is thought to be capable of delivering a nuclear warhead anywhere in the United States.
Several counter-terrorism operations, particularly in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions, are forcing law enforcement agencies and militaries to procure more missiles. As a result, all certain developments, an increase in investments in long-range ballistic missiles are anticipated to trigger the market demand for missile defense battery during the forecast era.
Increase in Missile Defense Spending
An increase in global GDP propels defense spending, which is expected to result in a spike in investments in the development and procurement of ballistic missiles. For instance, in May 2021, the Missile Defense Agency’s budget request for the fiscal year 2022 is USD 8.9 billion. The goal is to address key next-generation defensive capabilities against new threats such as intercontinental ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and hypersonic weapons. Additionally, over the past few years, The Indian government’s Ballistic Missile Defense Program had built and launched a multi-layered ballistic missile defense system to defend the country from the growing threat of ballistic missiles from China and Pakistan.
Conclusively, all the above-mentioned factors are supporting the missile developments tremendously, which is also leading the missile defense battery market industry at the same time.
