Questions tagged [icbm]

Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) are a class of rockets developed for the purpose of delivering warheads to targets almost anywhere on Earth. Use for discussing the rocket portion of the vehicle. Discussing warheads themselves are off-topic.

Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, often known by their abbreviation ICBM, are a class of rockets developed during the Cold War for the purpose of delivering warheads (primarily nuclear) to nearly anywhere on Earth. ICBM creation during the Cold War also contributed to the development of rocketry for space exploration.

Questions should focus on the rocket portion of the vehicle. Discussions about the warheads and their use (beyond trajectories set by the rocket) are off-topic.

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Is it correct that it takes approx. 30 minutes for an ICBM to reach Russia?

Imagine an ICBM with a nuclear warhead is launched from the US to reach Moscow. How long does it take to reach its target? I've read numbers of about 30 minutes (if the missile is launched from America) or even 15 minutes (if the missile is launched…
user3049
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ICBMs versus number of available warheads

ICBMs are known to be able to carry multiple warheads. The capability to launch against multiple targets in the same time is important when in an all-out war but I can imagine many times that a single strike may be tactically desirable. So are there…
George
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Would ICBM warheads be visible after separation from the booster and prior to reentry?

Simple question really - would ICBMs be visible to a person from the ground on a clear night, in much the same way the Starlink satellites have been? Edit - to be clear, I'm meaning when the warheads are in flight, pre re-entry. I know there's a…
NDJ
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