Ballistic vs Cruise missiles: Major differences and which is more dangerous? Understanding their threat levels and capabilities

Russia’s Oreshonik missile strike on Ukraine has shocked the entire world. The Oreshonik is a medium-range ballistic missile, and this marks the first time Russia has used this missile in a combat zone. Even a week after the attack, the missile continues to be a hot topic of discussion. Many experts have begun comparing the Russian Oreshonik missile with the ballistic and cruise missiles present in Western arsenals. This raises the question: what are the differences between ballistic and cruise missiles, and how do they differ from each other?
About ballistic missile
A Ballistic Missile (BM) is a type of missile that uses projectile motion to deliver a warhead to its target. These missiles ascend tens of kilometers into the atmosphere before descending toward their target, utilizing the force of gravity. Short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) typically remain within Earth’s atmosphere, while most long-range missiles travel outside the atmosphere. The most advanced type of ballistic missile is the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), capable of traveling across continents and, in some cases, completing an orbital flight.
Ballistic missiles generally have three main flight phases:

Boost Phase: The missile’s rocket motors fire, propelling it upward.
Midcourse Phase: Begins when the rocket motor stops firing, and the missile’s payload starts traveling toward its target in a free-fall trajectory.
Terminal Phase: The payload makes its final descent toward the target.

Some advanced ballistic missiles feature an additional Post-Boost Phase, during which onboard Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs) alter their trajectories to evade enemy air defenses and enhance strike effectiveness.

About cruise missiles
Cruise Missiles are jet-engine-powered weapons that remain within the atmosphere throughout their flight. They typically fly at extremely low altitudes, often just a few meters above the surface. This low-altitude flight helps evade enemy radar detection, making them stealthy and effective. Cruise missiles are designed for precision strikes against land and sea-based targets. If equipped with a nuclear warhead, they can target large areas or entire carrier strike groups, as seen with Russia’s P-800 Oniks. Conventional cruise missiles, on the other hand, are calibrated for precision attacks on smaller targets like buildings or bunkers.
Cruise missiles can alter their paths to reach targets, using advanced navigation systems such as:

GPS
Inertial guidance
Terrain mapping
Other guidance technologies.
Some advanced models even allow manual guidance by human operators during the terminal phase.

Advantages and disadvantages of Cruise Missiles
Advantages:

Cost-Effective: They are much cheaper than ballistic missiles, often costing only 15% of a typical tactical ballistic missile.
Stealth: Their low-altitude flight makes them harder to detect.
Accuracy: Cruise missiles are highly precise, capable of striking designated targets with minimal collateral damage.

Disadvantages:

Limited Payload: Unless equipped with nuclear warheads, their destructive capacity is generally lower.
Range Limitations: Cruise missiles typically carry smaller payloads, with the largest being 1,362 kg (e.g., the U.S. AGM-86 ALCM), while most average around 500 kg.

Cruise missiles remain a versatile and strategic weapon in modern military arsenals, balancing precision, stealth, and cost.
Why are ballistic missiles dangerous?
Ballistic missiles are considered highly dangerous due to their unique characteristics and capabilities, despite generally being less accurate than cruise missiles. While cruise missiles can strike targets with meter-level precision, ballistic missiles may miss targets by tens or even hundreds of meters. However, they compensate for this with several advantages:

Massive Payload Capacity: Ballistic missiles can carry significantly larger payloads compared to cruise missiles. For instance, Russia’s RS-28 Sarmat boasts a payload capacity of 10,000 kilograms, enabling it to deliver devastating destruction.
Incredible Speed: Ballistic missiles follow an arcing trajectory, allowing them to accelerate to hypersonic speeds, making them extremely difficult to intercept. In contrast, cruise missiles generally operate at subsonic or supersonic speeds, which are easier to track and counter.
Kinetic Energy Impact: The high speeds at which ballistic missiles descend amplify the kinetic energy of their payload, resulting in greater destruction upon impact, even without explosive warheads.
Range and Versatility: Ballistic missiles can travel vast distances, with some, like Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), capable of reaching targets across continents.

These features make ballistic missiles a formidable weapon, especially in the context of strategic and large-scale military operations. Their combination of speed, range, and destructive capacity makes them a critical concern in global security discussions.