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“Missile” is an extremely broad concept (Wikipedia calls it “a guided airborne ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight usually by a jet engine or rocket

“Missile” is an extremely broad concept (Wikipedia calls it “a guided airborne ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight usually by a jet engine or rocket motor”), but I think most people think of a missile as something without wings (but quite possibly fins) where the target is known at launch time, life expectancy is calculated in, at most, hours, and that doesn’t cooperate with other missiles. I wouldn’t see a dozen airplane- or (especially) helicopter-like drones that get launched with, say, the goal of preventing a piece of road to be used by the enemy, and that distribute themselves over the to be protected area and, Hang around for weeks as missiles. Because they aren’t weapons, I also wouldn’t think of reconnaissance drones as missiles, even if they are rockets that follow a pre-planned trajectory and then crash. That’s getting close to an edge case, though.

stonemetal12 5y ago
Any military hardware not coming back needs to be destroyed so it doesn't fall into enemy hands. If they aren't missiles they are at least bombs.
mcv 5y ago
> I think most people think of a missile as something without wings Don't cruise missiles have wings?
- Someone 5y ago
  Maybe. If I look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_(missile) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_(missile), I can’t tell whether those things that point out from the main body produce lift (which, I guess, is the difference between a fin and a wing) I added “quite possibly, fins” because I thought of that missile, but could hav been more explicit, and yes, those may be wings.
usrusr 5y ago
Eventually the space between drones, missiles and mines will get populated on any coordinate in between. Pure forms will continue to exist, but maybe we can hope that mine use will drop, getting substituted by alternatives ("perching missiles" or whatever they would be called) that don't outlive their conflicts quite as much.

stonemetal12 5y ago

Any military hardware not coming back needs to be destroyed so it doesn't fall into enemy hands. If they aren't missiles they are at least bombs.

mcv 5y ago

> I think most people think of a missile as something without wings Don't cruise missiles have wings?

Someone 5y ago
Maybe. If I look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_(missile) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_(missile), I can’t tell whether those things that point out from the main body produce lift (which, I guess, is the difference between a fin and a wing) I added “quite possibly, fins” because I thought of that missile, but could hav been more explicit, and yes, those may be wings.

usrusr 5y ago

Eventually the space between drones, missiles and mines will get populated on any coordinate in between. Pure forms will continue to exist, but maybe we can hope that mine use will drop, getting substituted by alternatives ("perching missiles" or whatever they would be called) that don't outlive their conflicts quite as much.