Top 10 Most Destructive Missiles in the World

DF-41 is the most lethal intercontinental ballistic missile developed by China. In fact, it ranks as one of the deadliest weapons in the world. While the exact specifications remain classified, it is believed to have entered service in 2016 or 2017. Its claimed range is 12,000 km, enabling it to target all of Europe, Russia, and the United States in as little as 20 to 25 minutes.

The DF-41 carries solid fuel and can hold up to ten MIRVs (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles), boosting its overall firepower. Its internal BeiDou satellite navigation system enhances its accuracy even further. The missile is transported to launch positions by the Tian HTF 5980 wheeled launcher, which features a specialized 16 x 16-meter wheelbase.

First deployed in 1984, the Tomahawk is a subsonic, long-range cruise missile designed to strike well-defended or high-value targets on land. Named after the Native American axe, it can reach speeds of up to 550 miles per hour and has an operational range of nearly 1,500 miles. The missile employs advanced guidance systems that adapt to mission-specific needs, allowing it to navigate evasive flight paths. Officially known as the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM), it has been successfully launched from both U.S. and UK submarines, as well as U.S. Navy surface vessels.

The Tomahawk comes in several variants, each with distinct features. The latest models can be reprogrammed in-flight via satellite communication to change targets or reroute using GPS coordinates. It can carry a nuclear warhead or additional conventional bombs, depending on the variant.

The UGM-133 Trident II is a submarine-launched ballistic missile manufactured by Lockheed Martin. In service since 1990, it is used by both the U.S. and UK navies. Over the years, modifications have enhanced its payload capacity, extended its range, and improved its accuracy, making it one of the most effective strategic weapons. Upon launch, it quickly ascends from the water’s surface and heads directly toward its target.

The Trident II consists of three solid-fuel rocket engines that fire in a predetermined sequence, propelling the missile forward. With a range of 4,230 nautical miles, it can receive GPS updates via its MK 6 inertial navigation system. The missile has been capable of carrying various payloads and is set to receive new warhead designs for future engagements.

The Jericho III is Israel's first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It follows the shorter-range Jericho I and the medium-range Jericho II. There is evidence suggesting that it shares technology with the Shavit space launch vehicle. Over time, the Jericho missile has evolved, and the latest version features a radar-guided warhead with an extended range. It can strike across all of Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

In addition, the Jericho III is capable of reaching much of the South Pacific, as well as North and South America. This gives the Israeli Defense Forces the ability to launch a nuclear strike anywhere on Earth, greatly enhancing their strategic deterrence. The reentry speed of the Jericho III is so rapid that current missile defense systems cannot intercept it. It is believed that its underground silos are also resistant to a variety of nuclear attacks.

The Agni family of ballistic missiles, developed by India, includes both medium-range and intercontinental variants, named after one of the five elements of nature. These missiles are capable of carrying nuclear warheads and are designed for ground-to-ground strikes. The first in the series, Agni-I, was developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program and tested in 1989. After its success, the Agni missile program was further prioritized due to its strategic importance.

Inspired by the Hindu god of fire, these missiles include Agni I, II, and III, all of which are currently operational. By January 2017, Agni IV completed its testing phase, and Agni V is expected to be inducted into the Indian Army between 2017 and 2018. The Agni series features various models with different payloads and missile stages. Agni III is noted for its accuracy and is widely considered one of the best in its medium-range class. This series uses some of the most advanced navigation and control technologies, developed indigenously in India.

The M51 SLBM is a French submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) developed by Ariane Group and deployed by the French Navy. It is the only intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in France's arsenal, making it a vital component of their nuclear strike capability. Designed to replace the M45 SLBM, the M51 was first deployed in 2010. Each missile carries between six and ten independently targetable TN 75 thermonuclear warheads.

The M51 SLBM is a more powerful version of its predecessors, with a range of 8,000 km. This three-stage solid-propellant missile is capable of striking targets anywhere in the world. Upon launch, the missile soars hundreds of kilometers into the sky, releasing 6 to 10 MIRVs. Each MIRV carries a 107 kiloton thermonuclear warhead and descends at Mach 25, deploying penetration aids to ensure a successful strike. It only takes 20 minutes for the missile to travel 4,500 km, leaving no time for the target to react.

The latest version of the BGM-71 TOW 2B missile flies over a tank and launches a projectile that penetrates the top armor of the tank. Earlier versions were wire-guided, but the most recent model is wire-free. The TOW missile can be launched from virtually any land-based platform. In September 2017, Raytheon secured a contract worth over half a billion dollars to produce these wire-guided, radio-controlled anti-armor missiles, which are now in use by more than 40 military forces globally.

The BGM-71 TOW is one of the U.S.'s premier anti-tank missiles, developed to replace older, smaller missiles like the SS10 and ENTAC. It boasts nearly double the effective range, a stronger warhead, and significantly improved semi-automatic guidance, with the option of being equipped with an infrared camera for night operations. The name TOW stands for Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, and Wire-guided missile, and has been in service since 1970.

• Tube-launched missile
• Optically-tracked guidance
• Wire guidance

On October 7, 2017, Russian warships launched 26 cruise missiles towards targets in Syria, 1,000 km away from their ships in the Caspian Sea. Even Pentagon officials, who closely monitor Russian military activities, were taken by surprise at the unveiling of these previously little-known missiles. The SS-N-30A is a Russian land-attack cruise missile (LACM) and an advanced version of the 3M-14E ‘Club’ LACM. With a range estimated at 1,500 to 2,500 km, the SS-N-30A has become a central element in Russia's naval strike capabilities.

This missile launch is seen as a demonstration to the world that Russia's SS-N-30 missile has established itself as one of the most advanced in the world. The missiles successfully hit 11 targets, including terrorist training camps, command centers, weapons, fuel depots, ammunition stockpiles, and production facilities for explosives and ammunition, fulfilling their mission effectively.

The ICBM LGM-30 Minuteman III is a crucial part of the United States' strategic deterrent force, designed to prevent hostile nations from attacking. The term ICBM refers to its primary function: the letter “L” indicates that the missile is launched from a hardened silo, while “G” denotes a surface attack capability, and “M” signifies that it is a guided missile.

Since its introduction in the late 1950s, the Minuteman missile has become a reliable, high-precision weapon. It is known for its rapid response, high accuracy, and long-range targeting capabilities. As of 2015, over 450 Minuteman III missiles were deployed across Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota. The Minuteman series has seen continuous upgrades since the first Minuteman I was deployed in the 1960s. Designed by Boeing, the missile's specifications include:

• Three solid-propellant rocket engines with a three-stage ATK design.
• Three stages of chemical propulsion, with 203,158 pounds of thrust in the first stage, 60,793 pounds in the second, and 35,086 pounds in the third.
• A range of over 6,000 miles.
• A speed of approximately 15,000 miles per hour.

The RS-28 Sarmat, nicknamed “Satan 2” by NATO, is a missile without equal anywhere in the world and is designed to make any adversary think twice before threatening Russia. Its warhead can strike targets anywhere between the North and South Poles. First introduced on the Makeyev Design Bureau website in 2016, the missile boasts an impressive range of over 6,800 miles and is capable of obliterating landmasses the size of France or Texas.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov confirmed the missile's capabilities to the state news agency TASS. The RS-28 Sarmat is a successor to the R-36M Voyevoda, and its existence was revealed shortly after Moscow suspended a weapons reduction treaty with the United States. Replacing the SS-19 Satan missile, it raises concerns about a world without nuclear weapons. First unveiled by Putin in a national address in 2018 as the “next-generation” nuclear missile technology, the Sarmat is 116 feet (35.3 meters) long and weighs 220 tons (200 metric tons).