warheads

A warhead is the payload portion of a missile, bomb, or other delivery vehicle that is intended to cause damage upon detonation. It can be a conventional explosive device or a nuclear explosive. In modern parlance, the term typically refers to the nuclear component of a strategic or tactical weapon, though many munitions employ conventional warheads optimized for blast, fragmentation, or penetration. The warhead is housed in the delivery system and remains inert until arming and fuze timing occur.

Types include nuclear warheads, which release energy through fission, fusion, or a combination of both. Nuclear designs range from small tactical devices to large strategic warheads; many are configured for multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). Conventional warheads use high-explosive charges to generate blast and fragments, and may be designed for specific effects such as anti-armor or bunker busting. Other payloads—chemical, biological, or inert trainers—are historically associated with warheads, but modern prohibitions and treaties limit their development and deployment.

Safety, control, and verification are central to warhead systems. Modern warheads incorporate safeties to prevent unauthorized arming, and need-to-know authorization to deploy. Arms-control regimes and treaties regulate production, stockpiling, and testing, aiming to reduce proliferation and risk. The exact configuration and yield of warheads are highly classified in many jurisdictions, with publicly available information providing only generalized descriptions.