👉 Comparative analysis of missiles involves examining their design, range, payload capacity, guidance systems, and deployment strategies to understand their relative strengths and weaknesses. For instance, ballistic missiles, like the U.S. Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), are designed to travel long distances with minimal guidance, relying on gravity and inertia for their trajectory. In contrast, cruise missiles, such as the Russian S-400 or Chinese DF-21D, are guided by inertial navigation systems and can fly at lower altitudes, offering greater precision but with a shorter range. Strategic missiles, like the U.S. Tomahawk, combine ballistic and cruise capabilities, providing both long-range precision strikes and the ability to land on shorter runways. Tactical missiles, such as the U.S. Patriot or Russian S-300, are shorter-range and often surface-to-air variants, designed for rapid deployment and close combat roles. Each type of missile is tailored to specific military objectives, balancing factors like range, accuracy, and operational flexibility.