Noun

Singular missile

Plural missiles

missile (plural missiles)

1. An object intended to be launched into the air at a target.
2. (military) A self-propelled projectile with an explosive or nuclear warhead, whose trajectory can be adjusted after having been launched.

Related terms

• mess
• message
• messenger
• mission
• missionary
• missive

A missile is a self-propelled projectile used as a weapon. Missiles are typically propelled by rockets or jet engines. Missiles generally have one or more explosive warheads, although other weapon types may also be used.

Early development

The first missiles to be used operationally were a series of missiles developed by Nazi Germany in World War II. Most famous of these are the V-1 flying bomb and V-2, both of which used a simple mechanical autopilot to keep the missile flying along a pre-chosen route. Less well known were a series of anti-shipping and anti-aircraft missiles, typically based on a simple radio control system directed by the operator. However, these early systems had a high failure rate so they were very unreliable.

Technology

Guided missiles have a number of different system components:

• Targeting and/or guidance
• Flight system
• Engine
• Warhead