The phrase "a small missile" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing military technology, weaponry, or aerospace engineering.
Example: "The defense system was designed to intercept a small missile before it could reach its target."
Alternatives: "a minor projectile" or "a compact missile".
In practice, this was a small missile that caused only marginal damage to a building.
A "small missile" struck the headquarters of Britain's M.I.6 intelligence agency in central London late Wednesday, causing an explosion on the eighth floor, the police said.
The administration plans to start work this summer on a small missile defense base at Fort Greely, near Fairbanks, that would house five missile interceptors.
At the same time, the commission has struck out in another direction and proposed the development of a small missile whose function is exactly opposite to that of the MX.
Michael O'Hanlon has made an excellent and prudent argument for the administration to temporarily abandon the idea of establishing a small missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic.
China has a small missile force, but Mr. Putin's warning that more warheads could be put on Russian missiles quietly raises the specter of Russia helping China develop multiple warhead technology and expand its nuclear potential.
The Iraqis retaliate for attacks on their capital within minutes; the Iranians, who seem to have a smaller missile arsenal, take longer to shoot back.
The AA-7 Apex, a Sparrow equivalent, and the AA-8 Aphid, a relatively small missile for close-in use, were introduced during the 1970s.
Strong political momentum has gathered for construction of a limited defensive system intended to protect against a possible small missile attack from countries like North Korea or Iraq.
The Sagger, a relatively small missile designed for infantry use on the lines of the original German concept, saw use in Vietnam and was used with conspicuous success by Egyptian infantry in the Suez Canal crossing of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War.
Following this, William Casey, head of the CIA, requested that the United States authorize sending a shipment of small missile parts to Iranian military forces as a way of expressing gratitude.
