<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs attention from an expert in Military history . Please add a reason or a talk parameter to this template to explain the issue with the article . WikiProject Military history may be able to help recruit an expert . (January 2018) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs attention from an expert in Military history . Please add a reason or a talk parameter to this template to explain the issue with the article . WikiProject Military history may be able to help recruit an expert . (January 2018) </Td> </Tr> <P> A ballistic missile follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver one or more warheads on a predetermined target . These weapons are only guided during relatively brief periods of flight--most of their trajectory is unpowered, being governed by gravity and air resistance if in the atmosphere . Shorter range ballistic missiles stay within the Earth's atmosphere, while longer - ranged intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), are launched on a sub-orbital flight trajectory and spend most of their flight out of the atmosphere </P> <P> These weapons are in a distinct category from cruise missiles, which are aerodynamically guided in powered flight . </P>

What is a ballistic missile and what does it do
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