Warhead, what is it?

[Avarell_Dalton]

Heard a song with Extreme, Warheads. I know from a dictionary that it's a part of a missile containing the charge but I'm having a feeling it's something else too. In swedish we have a word for army people who's a bit too into what they're doing (stridspitt), freely translated, "fight dick". Help me out here guys :D

[Avarell_Dalton]

Can it be no one here knows what a warhead is, come on guys!

[rudedog]

A part of the armament system in the forward part of a projectile, such as a guided missile, rocket, torpedo, bomb, or other munition, that contains either a nuclear or thermonuclear system, a high explosive system, chemical or biological agents, or inert materials intended to inflict damage on a target.


(DOD) That part of a missile, projectile, torpedo, rocket, or other munition which contains either the nuclear or thermonuclear system, high explosive system, chemical or biological agents, or inert materials intended to inflict damage.


A warhead is an explosive device used in military conflicts, used to destroy enemy vehicles or buildings.



Typically, a warhead is delivered by a missile (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Missile&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1), rocket (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Rocket&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1), or torpedo (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Torpedo&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1). It consists of the explosive material (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Explosive+material&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1), and a detonator.



The types of warhead are:
Explosive: An explosive charge is used to disintegrate the target, and damage surrounding areas with a shockwave.


Chemical: A toxic chemical, such as nerve gas (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Nerve+agent&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1) is dispersed, which is designed to injure or kill human beings.


Biological: An infectious agent, such as anthrax (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Anthrax+disease&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1) is dispersed, which is designed to sicken and kill humans.
The types of explosive are:



Chemical: Chemicals such as gunpowder (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Gunpowder&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1) store significant energy within their molecular bonds. This energy can be released quickly by a trigger, such as an electric spark. Thermobaric weapons (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Thermobaric+weapon&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1) are something of a special case.


Nuclear: See Nuclear weapon (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Nuclear+weapon&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1).
Often, a biological or chemical warhead will use an explosive charge for rapid dispersal.

The types of detonators are:



Contact: When the warhead makes physical contact with the target, the explosive is detonated.


Proximity: Using radio (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Radio&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1) waves, sound waves, a magnetic sensor, or Radar (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Radar&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1), 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 (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Shrapnel&gwp=8&curtab=2222_1) primarily towards the target that triggered it.


Timed: Warhead is detonated after a specific amount of time.


Combined: Any combination of the above.
Translations for: Warhead


Nederlands (Dutch)
het explosief op een raket/torpedo/bom

Français (French)
ogive


Deutsch (German)
n. - Sprengkopf


Ελληνική (Greek)
n. εκρηκτική κεφαλή

Italiano (Italian)
testata


Português (Portuguese)
n. - ogiva (f)


Русский (Russian)
боеголовка

Español (Spanish)
n. - ojiva de combate, sección explosiva de un proyectil


Svenska (Swedish)
n. - stridsspets


中国话 (Simplified Chinese)
n. - 弹头


中國話 (Traditional Chinese)
n. - 彈頭


日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 弾頭


العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) رأس, الصاروخ الذي توجد فيه المفرقعات أو الغازات السامه‏

עברית‬ (Hebrew)
n. - *ראש חץ, ראש-נפץ של טיל, טורפדו וכו'‬




Source: Answer.com (http://www.answers.com/warhead)

[Avarell_Dalton]

Well Rude, thanks for a very comprehensive answer and I understand from it that it's no patronizing related to it :)