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
To initiate the fission process in a nuclear weapon, it takes more than just some random explosion. There is a great deal of timing and precision involved to get the separate pieces of material brought together just right. The device has to be sort of fail safe so there are also safety interlocks and arming signals (kind of a good idea if you have lots of them stored relatively close to each other) The ICBM also has to survive the launch and reentry without going off prematurely.
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