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Can a nuclear weapon explode if a nuclear tipped missile is intercepted in the air by an anti ballistic missile?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Under normal circumstances no. Nukes need a smaller pre-explosion that starts the nuclear reaction, which would not happen if it were intercepted. Its possible that it could be armed so it goes off if intercepted. It should be noted that if intercepted there is still fissionable martial from the missile so if it lands on a populated area it could still be as lethal as if it went off normally.
The missile will not explode by being intercepted - Anti-ballistic and Anti-Missile Interceptors target the fuel at the midsection, which is most likely not going to detonate the Warhead's High-Explosive detonator cap, and might not explode at all (fuel-wise). HOWEVER, the missile will turn into a gravity bomb, and if it lands on the detonator cap or with significant force, it will detonate. This is why technologies such as the Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser (ABL) are designed to drop the enemy missile over enemy territory.
It is important to note that gun-activated nuclear weapons which shoot one core of fission material at another, will not detonate in this circumstance unless the detonator cap activates the gun.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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Can nuclear weapon explode if nuclear tipped missile is intercepted in air by the anti ballistic missile?
Maybe. If ABM was nuclear itself, it will probably cause fratricide in the warhead causing it to dud. If ABM is conventional it might detonate conventional explosives in warhead. Whether this produces yield or not depends on how safe the warhead was designed against one point detonation nuclear yield.
Is the ICBM a rocket or missile?
An intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, is a long-range (greater than 5,500 km or 3,500 miles) ballistic missile typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery, that is, delivering one or more nuclear warheads.Source: Wikipedia.
Where nuclear energy is used today?
In the power plants of ballistic missile submarines.
In 1980 Argentina and Brazil put aside their rivalries in?
the nuclear and ballistic missile spheres
What was the cold wars biggest weapon threat?
The inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) with nuclear warheads.
What are intercontinental ballistic missiles?
An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a ballistic missile with a range of more than 5,500 kilometres (3,400 mi) typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery (delivering one or more nuclear warheads). Most modern designs support multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), allowing a single missile to carry several warheads, each of which can strike a different target.
How far can a missile go?
Primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery, an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) can reach a minimum of 3,400 miles (5500 km).
What was the goal of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty?
to ensure each side remained vulnerable to the others nuclear weapons.
What devices were developed to deliver powerful nuclear weapons?
The intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was the eventual method developed to deliver nuclear weapons. The variants IRBM (intermediate range ballistic missile) and SLBM (submarine launched ballistic missile) are currently used, along with cruise missiles. However, some weapons are still carried by jet bombers in the USAF's Air Force Global Strike Command (formerly Strategic Air Command).
What is the blast radius of a nuclear ballistic missile?
This really depends on a number of factors, such as the yield of the weapon, the detonation altitude, and the terrain.
What is the name of Britain's nuclear missile programme?
the current nuclear missile system in place, is the US Trident missile. Its sole use resides with the royal navy. during the 60's there was a development project called "Blue Steel" this was the british attempt at designing its own Intercontinental Ballistic Missile or ICBM Hope this helps
What are weapons of nuclear submarine?
Modern submarines carry a wide variety of weapons. An example of a U.S. Navy Fast-Attack Submarine weapons capability includes: Homing Torpedoes (Active and Passive Sonar) Tomahawk Land-Attack Missile (Conventional and Nuclear) Tomahawk Anti-Ship Missile Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile Mines Ballistic Missile submarines can carry those weapons as well, but their primary mission is Nuclear Deterrence, and as such their main weapons are Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM's).
