shehbazi2001
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For checking the effectiveness of Iranian Shahab systems, we need to look beyond the figures of range and warhead payload.
Seemingly, Shahabs are liquid-fuel systems. I saw a launch video of it and the presence of a fixed flame or plume at rocket nozzle showed that its a liquid fuel system. This plume disappears after a short distance.
In a solid fuel ballistic missile, there is no flame or plume, rather there is a continuous smoke trail, that increases in size with distance.
For understanding this, we can search the videos in youtube of Ghauri and Shaheen missiles of Pakistan and paying attention to plume and smoke trails.
If the propulsion is by solid fuel, we say that missile has a rocket motor and if the missile uses liquid fuel, we say it has a rocket engine.
Now the point is that the Re-entry vehicle (RV) separates of the main rocket body or not. In most solid fuel missiles, the rocket separates from the RV once it is finished or burnt out. This also reduces the radar signature or RCS of the missile by virtue of reduction in size.
It is RV that contains the warhead.
Looking the videos and pictures of Iraqi Scuds in Gulf War, it seemed that the whole missile body crashed on the target and there was no separation of RV. This large missile has greater RCS and was easily tracked on radar.
If the rocket is separated from the RV, like in Pakistani Shaheen and Ghaznavi missiles, then the RV presents a smaller target to track and they have more chances to get through the defences.
I don't know if the rocket engine of Shahab separates from the RV or not, but if it does not separate like Iraqi Scuds, then they can easily be tracked by ground radars and intercepted. They would then have to saturate the defences by firing more rounds.
Seemingly, Shahabs are liquid-fuel systems. I saw a launch video of it and the presence of a fixed flame or plume at rocket nozzle showed that its a liquid fuel system. This plume disappears after a short distance.
In a solid fuel ballistic missile, there is no flame or plume, rather there is a continuous smoke trail, that increases in size with distance.
For understanding this, we can search the videos in youtube of Ghauri and Shaheen missiles of Pakistan and paying attention to plume and smoke trails.
If the propulsion is by solid fuel, we say that missile has a rocket motor and if the missile uses liquid fuel, we say it has a rocket engine.
Now the point is that the Re-entry vehicle (RV) separates of the main rocket body or not. In most solid fuel missiles, the rocket separates from the RV once it is finished or burnt out. This also reduces the radar signature or RCS of the missile by virtue of reduction in size.
It is RV that contains the warhead.
Looking the videos and pictures of Iraqi Scuds in Gulf War, it seemed that the whole missile body crashed on the target and there was no separation of RV. This large missile has greater RCS and was easily tracked on radar.
If the rocket is separated from the RV, like in Pakistani Shaheen and Ghaznavi missiles, then the RV presents a smaller target to track and they have more chances to get through the defences.
I don't know if the rocket engine of Shahab separates from the RV or not, but if it does not separate like Iraqi Scuds, then they can easily be tracked by ground radars and intercepted. They would then have to saturate the defences by firing more rounds.
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