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Awarhead is the section of a device that contains the explosive agent or toxic (biological, chemical, or nuclear) material that is delivered by a missile, rocket, torpedo, or bomb.
Types of warheads include:
Often, a biological or chemical warhead will use an explosive charge for rapid dispersal.
Explosive warheads contain detonators to trigger the explosion.
Types of detonators include:
| Type | Definition |
|---|---|
| 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 | Using radar, sonar, 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 fragmentation primarily towards the target that triggered it. |
| Timed | Warhead is detonated after a specific amount of time. |
| Altitude | Warhead is detonated once it falls to a specified altitude, usually in an air burst. |
| Remote | Remotely detonated via signal from operator. (Not normally used for warheads except for self-destruction) |
| Combined | Any combination of the above. |
