Warhead 33865 214153622 2008-05-22T09:42:07Z Harald Hansen 99836 interwiki +no: {{Unreferenced|date=February 2008}} {{cleanup|date=March 2008}} {{otheruses}} [[Image:B-61 bomb (DOE).jpg|right|thumb|300px|A [[B61 nuclear bomb]] in various stages of assembly; the nuclear '''warhead''' is the bullet-shaped silver canister in the middle-left of the photograph.]] Typically, a '''warhead''' is the [[explosive material]] and [[detonator]] that is delivered by a [[missile]], [[rocket]], or [[torpedo]]. == Etymology == During the early development of naval [[torpedo]]es, they could be equipped with an inert payload that was intended for use during training, test firing and exercises. This was referred to as a ''peacehead''. The explosive payload carried by weapons intended for use in combat became known as a ''warhead''. The term peacehead subsequently fell into disuse. == Classification == Types of warheads include: * [[Explosive material|Explosive]]: An explosive charge is used to disintegrate the target, and damage surrounding areas with a [[shock wave]]. ** [[Conventional weapon|Conventional]]: Chemicals such as [[gunpowder]] and [[high explosive]]s store significant energy within their molecular bonds. This energy can be released quickly by a trigger, such as an electric spark. [[Thermobaric weapon]]s are something of a special case. ***Blast: A strong shock wave is provided by the detonation of the explosive ***[[Fragmentation (weaponry)|Fragmentation]]: Metal fragments are projected at high velocity to cause damage or injury. ***[[Continuous rod warhead|Continuous rod]]: Metal bars connected on their ends forming a continuous narrow zig-zag ring after ignition - able to cut aerial structures. ***[[Shaped charge]] or [[explosively formed penetrator]]: The effect of the explosive charge is focused onto a specially shaped metal liner to project a hypervelocity jet of metal, to perforate heavy [[armour]]. ** [[Nuclear weapon|Nuclear]]: A runaway [[Nuclear fission]] or [[Nuclear fusion]] reaction causes immense energy release. * [[Chemical warfare|Chemical]]: A toxic chemical, such as [[poison gas]] or [[nerve gas]], is dispersed, which is designed to injure or kill human beings. * [[Biological warfare|Biological]]: An infectious agent, such as [[anthrax disease|anthrax spores]], is dispersed, which is designed to sicken or kill humans. * [[Projectile#Kinetic_projectiles|Kinetic]]: Collides the target with high speed. Detonation is not applicable. Often, a biological or chemical warhead will use an explosive charge for rapid dispersal. == Detonators == The types of detonators are: * Contact: When the warhead makes physical contact with the target, the explosive is detonated. Sometimes combined with a delay, to detonate a specific amount of time after contact. * [[Proximity fuze|Proximity]]: Using [[radar]], sound waves, a magnetic sensor, or a [[laser]] the warhead is detonated when the target is within a specified distance. It is often coupled with directional explosion control system that ensures that the explosion sends the [[shrapnel]] primarily towards the target that triggered it. * Remote: remotely detonated via signal from operator (Not normally used for warheads except for self-destruction) * Timed: Warhead is detonated after a specific amount of time. * Altitude: Warhead is detonated once it falls to a specified altitude. See [[air burst]]. * Combined: Any combination of the above. == See also == * [[Guidance system]] * [[Missile]] and [[List of missiles]] * [[List of aircraft weapons]] * [[Nuclear weapon yield]] [[Category:Ammunition]] [[Category:Explosive weapons]] [[de:Sprengkopf]] [[es:Ojiva (arma)]] [[fr:Ogive (missile)]] [[id:Hulu ledak]] [[he:ראש קרב]] [[nl:Springkop]] [[no:Stridshode]] [[ja:弾頭]] [[pl:Głowica bojowa]] [[pt:Ogiva]] [[ru:Боеголовка]] [[fi:Taistelukärki]]