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 really dumb it down, nuclear fission in a warhead that has a very specific process to actually be successful and cause an explosion. If these events are disturbed, it causes the ICBM warhead to “fizzle” out which is basically a failure in one of the steps in the process.
Shooting the ICBM causes a disruption in this process, rendering the warhead useless. These steps are necessary because without them, the warheads can explode at any time, even in the silo.
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