Operational ballistic missiles are deployed in silos, on submarines, and on land-mobile launchers, including trucks and railcars. Mobile missiles are favored by many nations because they can be hidden, which greatly increases their survivability.   Relative Ranges of Ballistic Missiles In many short-range ballistic missiles, the entire missile remains intact until the warhead detonates. In longer range ballistic missiles, warheads are contained in separating reentry vehicles. Some long-range ballistic missiles carry multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), with up to 10 reentry vehicles (RVs) per missile. RVs reenter the Earth's atmosphere at very high velocities, on the order of 4-5 miles per second at ICBM ranges. Ballistic Missile Category Maximum Range Short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) <1,000 km (621 mi) Medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) 1,000-3,000 km (621-1,864 mi) Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) 3,000-5,500 km (1,864 - 3,418 mi) Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) >5,500 km (3,418 mi) Submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Any ballistic missile launched from a submarine, regardless of maximum range Ballistic missiles can use solid- or liquid-propellant rocket propulsion systems. The trend in modem missile systems has been toward the use of solid propellants because of their reduced logistical requirements and simplicity of operation. However, some Third World nations have greater access to liquid-propellant technology and therefore continue to develop new liquid-propellant missiles.