AB61 nuclear bomb in various stages of assembly; the nuclear warhead is the bullet-shaped silver canister in the middle-left of the photograph.
Awarhead is the section of a device that contains theexplosive agent ortoxic (biological, chemical, or nuclear) material that is delivered by amissile,rocket,torpedo, orbomb.
Explosive: An explosive charge is used to destroy the target and damage surrounding areas with ablast wave.
Conventional: Chemicals such asgunpowder andhigh explosives store significant energy within their molecular bonds. This energy can be released quickly by a trigger, such as anelectric 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 heavyarmour.
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.
Explosive warheads containdetonators to trigger the explosion.
Types of detonators include:
Type
Definition
Contact
When the warhead makes physical contact with the target, the explosive is detonated. Sometimes combined with a delay, to detonate a specific amount of time after contact.
Usingradar,sonar, a magnetic sensor, or alaser, the warhead is detonated when the target is within a specified distance. It is often coupled with directional explosion control system that ensures that the explosion sends thefragmentation primarily towards the target that triggered it.
Timed
Warhead is detonated after a specific amount of time.
Altitude
Warhead is detonated once it falls to a specified altitude, usually in anair burst.
Remote
Remotely detonated via signal from operator. (Not normally used for warheads except for self-destruction)
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