Posted on 07/17/2006 10:05:41 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
JERUSALEM - An Israeli airstrike in Lebanon on Monday destroyed at least one long-range Iranian missile capable of hitting Tel Aviv, military officials said.
Israeli aircraft targeted a truck carrying the weapons before they could be launched, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of military regulations. The force of the blast sent at least one missile flying into the air, but it fell nearby.
During nearly a week of fighting, Hezbollah militants have fired missiles up to 25 miles into Israel. But officials have raised concerns the guerrilla group could strike Tel Aviv, about 80 miles south of the border with Lebanon.
So why do they call them "ballistic" missles?
The MSM doesn't bother to try.
. Not sure why they called it that other than it's range, but it is an unguided rocket.
The scud for instance is a guided ballistic missile
Main Entry: missile Function: noun : an object (as a weapon) thrown or projected usually so as to strike something at a distance (stones, artillery shells, bullets, and rockets are missiles)
You're like my wife: "often wrong, but never in doubt".
bump
Apparently, a missile just hit a hospital in Safed, I hope this was an accident
I just read on Haaretz that a medical institution in Galilee sustained a direct hit, but no injuries reported
They also said that operations in Lebanon will go on at least a week
ballistic, apparently, refers to the fact that the missile is not fired like a bottle rocket.
The ballistic missiles flight time, arc and trajectory have been calculated, and the missile is aimed for a specific target. The missile may or may not have onboard flight 'correction', or 'tracking', or 'targeting' abilities.
Just the fact it is 'aimed' based on known flight characteristics is enough to warrant the label 'ballistic'.
ballistic, apparently, refers to the fact that the missile is not fired like a bottle rocket.
The ballistic missiles flight time, arc and trajectory have been calculated, and the missile is aimed for a specific target. The missile may or may not have onboard flight 'correction', or 'tracking', or 'targeting' abilities.
Just the fact it is 'aimed' based on known flight characteristics is enough to warrant the label 'ballistic'.
oops. Bad keyboard. bad. bad.
Easy, when they are alive, they are Hizbolla terrorists, and when they are dead, they are civilians.
That term is usually a reference to (guided) missiles which are ground-launched, and impact on the ground (like a bullet). Air-to-Air and Surface-to-Air missiles aren't intended to impact the ground, therefore no reference to the ballistic arc. However, a surface-to-surface weapon is going to come down *somewhere* (and it really doesn't become "ballistic" until it runs out of thrust).
The steering capability only makes the weapon more accurate - it's still ballistic in nature.
There is a difference between rockets and missiles and Hizbullah is using both... hhmmm
Since you raise the issue, however, a missile is 'ballistic' if it is subject to no propulsive or direction-changing forces. For example, a golf-ball once it has left the club face or a bullet after it has left the barrel. A rocket is not ballistic before its propellant is exhausted, but then becomes ballistic.
GOOD!
I had just caught the news of this when I had to go out. Great!
Absolutely none! The "operators" were all Lebanese! The fat sweaty guy with the towel wrap on his head said so.
Thanks! Ichabod1 recognized the proverb I adapted it from, but the point is true.
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