why won’t there be a nuclear explosion if a nuclear weapon is shot down?

Question

why won’t there be a nuclear explosion if a nuclear weapon is shot down?

In: 4

Answer 1

For the nuclear explosion to occur, the fissile material (stuff that undergoes the nuclear reaction) must be forced together to explode. This can be a very precise reaction. If you shoot down a nuclear weapon, this material will not combine to reach critical mass, therefore no nuclear blast.