| ABM |
abbreviation of "antiballistic missile," a missile designed to meet and destroy a ballistic missile in flight. |
| airflow |
a flow of air, esp. around a moving vehicle, missile, or the like. |
| air-to-air |
of a missile or the like, designed to be shot by an aircraft at an aerial target. |
| antiballistic missile |
a missile designed to meet and destroy a ballistic missile in flight. |
| arbalest |
a medieval missile-launching weapon whose design is similar to that of a crossbow. |
| automatic pilot |
an instrument that automatically keeps an aircraft, missile, or the like on a predetermined course at a specific altitude. [1/2 definitions] |
| ballistic missile |
a long-range missile that reaches its target by falling freely at extremely high speed along a precalculated trajectory. |
| blastoff |
a launching of a rocket-driven missile or spacecraft. |
| cruise missile |
a long-range guided missile, propelled by a jet or rocket and capable of being launched from an aircraft, ship, or submarine. |
| dart |
a small pointed missile, thrown by hand or shot from a blowgun or other device. [1/6 definitions] |
| destruct |
the act of destroying a missile or rocket, esp. a defective one just after launch. [2/3 definitions] |
| downrange |
in the direction of the point taken as target, away from the launch site, on a missile test range. |
| flight-test |
to fly (an aircraft or rocket) or launch (a missile) for testing purposes. |
| gantry |
a framework that supports a missile or rocket prior to launch and facilitates construction and maintenance. [1/2 definitions] |
| grenade |
a small missile thrown or shot from a rifle-mounted launcher at a target after being primed to explode. [1/2 definitions] |
| guidance |
a system that automatically steers and controls a rocket or missile. [1/3 definitions] |
| guided missile |
a missile that is capable of being guided throughout its flight until arrival at its target. (See ballistic missile.) |
| hull2 |
any similar casing, as on a missile or spacecraft. [1/2 definitions] |
| ICBM |
abbreviation of "intercontinental ballistic missile." |
| incendiary |
a bomb, missile, shell, or the like, that yields intense heat and fire when exploded. [1/7 definitions] |
| inertial guidance |
guidance of a missile, spacecraft, submarine, or the like by means of a self-contained automatic system that measures and adjusts speed and direction to maintain a predetermined course. |