assuming the ICBM is a nuclear warhead…. Doesn’t the whole process behind a nuclear warhead involve an explosion that propels the nuclear “fuel” to start a chain reaction? i.e. exploding a warhead will essentially be the same as the explosion that causes the isotope to undergo fission?
ig the same can be said about conventional bombs as well but nuclear is more confusing.
In: Chemistry
Most ICBM intirceprors are not aiming for the warhead they are going for the fuel stored in the middle of missle. They aum to destory the missle while lwaving the warhead intact. So any explosion is likely due to a fail safe and not overpressure by the explosion triggering the warhead due to how high the trigger pressures are and generally are not that heat sensitive even in the case of breaching the casing. Modern day nukes are not what they cooked up in the manhattan project.
For conventional bombs they are often far more senstive to heat and pressure. This can trigger the explosives to well go boom. Even kn a hit that missed the warhead due to heat alone. Conventional weapons are based in semi-voilitle chemical compounds that are one or two steps away from blowing themselves up.
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