What is a ballistic missile?

A ballistic missile is a warhead that follows a specific flight path to hit a designated area, which is usually an enemy aircraft, tank or warship. This technology was first developed by the Third Reich regime in Nazi Germany for use during World War II.

The V-2 rocket was the first ballistic missile developed in Germany in 1944. Models by other countries soon followed, including the SM-65 Atlas in the United States in 1958 and R-7 Semyorka in the Soviet Union in 1959. These missiles played a role in the arms race during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.