'''Hard launching''' is when a guided missile's rocket engine is ignited while still inside the launch assembly (sometimes referred to as missile canister), silo, or tube. Although technically simpler than soft launching, its disadvantage is that the missile silo has to be more resilient to damage.
The Soviets pioneered soft launches as a low-cost method. Soft launching has to overcome the difficulty of first expelling the projectile from the silo passively (without engine ignition). Only after the missile completely clears the silo can the engine be ignited.
Usually, soft launching requires two independent systems: one to expel the missile, and the second to ignite it after adequately clearing the silo. Hard launching is, therefore, more straightforward but more expensive. There is also a higher degree of risk associated with hard launches. If there is a malfunction, the missile can detonate inside the silo, severely damaging neighboring components and auxiliary systems of the launch base.
Most of the United States ICBMs and SLBMs are cold launched. The MK-41<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mark 41 Vertical Launch Systems |url=https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed-martin/rms/documents/naval-launchers-and-munitions/MK41-VLS-product-card.pdf |access-date=August 22, 2023 |website=Lockheed Martin Mark 41}}</ref> on American Ships<ref>{{Cite web |title=MK 41 - VLS |url=https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2167856/mk-41-vls/https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2167856/mk-41-vls/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=United States Navy |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> launch<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Netherlands – MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) {{!}} Defense Security Cooperation Agency |url=https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/netherlands-mk-41-vertical-launching-system-vls |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=www.dsca.mil}}</ref> SM-2, SM-3 and SM-6 hot.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA183944 |title=VLS (Vertical Launching System). A Challenge Met, An Old Rule Kept |language=en}}</ref> The US Navy has been adopting more versatile launch systems that can work in either modes.
==See also== *Soft launch (missile) *Hot launch and cold launch
==References== {{Reflist}}
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Category:Missile launchers Category:Missile operation Category:Guided missiles