ABSTRACT
In terms of military efficiency, the destructive power of conventionally loaded missiles – often with poor target precision – is small in comparison to modern aircraft. In terms of military utility, not only quality but also quantities are important. Given the limited arsenals of missiles of Third World states, it is hard to imagine a strategically relevant threat unless NBC weapons are involved. In most cases the missile arsenals of developing states do not exceed the total of 600 SCUD-B or C, with the average being much lower. To put this figure into perspective, during World War II Germany fired approximately 4,300 V-1 and V-2 rockets and missiles at targets in Britain, without affecting the course of the war. As demonstrated by ballistic missile use in the first and second Gulf Wars, their main strategic value lies in their psychological impact. When ballistic missiles carry conventional warheads, their military use is in fact quite limited. Their importance increases considerably if they carry a chemical, biological or nuclear warhead. Experts claim that even those with a chemical warhead are more of a ‘terror weapon’ rather than weapons of mass destruction because large numbers of chemical weapons are needed to cause large casualties and ballistic missiles have a limited payload.1
