A warhead is the forward section of a device that contains the explosive agent or
toxic (biological, chemical, or nuclear) material that is delivered by a
missile,
rocket,
torpedo, or
bomb.
Classification
Types of warheads include:
*
Explosive: An explosive charge is used to disintegrate the target, and damage surrounding areas with a
blast wave.
**
Conventional: Chemicals such as
gunpowder and
high explosive
An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. An ...
s store significant energy within their molecular bonds. This energy can be released quickly by a trigger, such as an
electric spark.
Thermobaric weapons enhance the blast effect by utilizing the surrounding atmosphere in their explosive reactions.
***
Blast: A strong shock wave is provided by the detonation of the explosive.
***
Fragmentation: Metal fragments are projected at high velocity to cause damage or injury.
***
Continuous rod: Metal bars welded on their ends form a compact cylinder of interconnected rods, which is violently expanded into a contiguous zig-zag-shaped ring by an explosive detonation. The rapidly expanding ring produces a planar cutting effect that is devastating against military aircraft, which may be designed to be resistant to shrapnel.
***
Shaped charge: The effect of the explosive charge is focused onto a specially shaped metal liner to project a hypervelocity jet of metal, to perforate heavy
armour.
****
Explosively formed penetrator: Instead of turning a thin metal liner into a focused jet, the detonation wave is directed against a concave metal plate at the front of the warhead, propelling it at high velocity while simultaneously deforming it into a projectile.
**
Nuclear
Nuclear may refer to:
Physics
Relating to the nucleus of the atom:
*Nuclear engineering
*Nuclear physics
*Nuclear power
*Nuclear reactor
*Nuclear weapon
*Nuclear medicine
*Radiation therapy
*Nuclear warfare
Mathematics
*Nuclear space
*Nuclear ...
: A runaway
nuclear fission (
fission bomb
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions ( thermonuclear bomb), producing a nuclear explosion. Both bomb ...
) or
nuclear fusion (
Thermonuclear weapon) reaction causes immense energy release.
*
Chemical: A toxic chemical, such as
poison gas
Many gases have toxic properties, which are often assessed using the LC50 (median lethal dose) measure. In the United States, many of these gases have been assigned an NFPA 704 health rating of 4 (may be fatal) or 3 (may cause serious or perma ...
or
nerve gas, is dispersed, which is designed to injure or kill human beings.
*
Biological: An infectious agent, such as
anthrax spores, is dispersed, which is designed to sicken or kill humans.
Often, a biological or chemical warhead will use an explosive charge for rapid dispersal.
Detonators
Type of detonators include:
See also
*
Guidance system
*
List of aircraft weapons
*
List of missiles
*
Nuclear weapon yield
*
Missile
References
#The Nuclear Weapon Archive. The B61 (Mk-61) Bomb - Intermediate yield strategic and tactical thermonuclear bomb
#GlobalSecurity.org The B61 thermonuclear bomb
#The Brookings Institution. B61 Nuclear Gravity Bomb
#Stephen I. Schwartz. Atomic Audit - The Costs and Consequences of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Since 1940. Brookings Institution Press 1998 c. 700pp
#Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill AFB, Utah. B61 THERMONUCLEAR BOMB
#National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). NNSA Achieves Significant Milestone for B61 Bomb. June 30, 2006
#Chuck Hansen, U.S. Nuclear Weapons: The Secret History, (New York: Orion Books, 1988), pp. 162–164.
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Ammunition
Explosive weapons
Missiles