Weapons & delivery systems
Warhead
The explosive payload of a missile, bomb, or other weapon system; for nuclear weapons, the package containing the fissile or fusion material.
In nuclear arsenals, "warhead" usually refers to the physics package on a delivery vehicle (ICBM reentry vehicle, SLBM RV, cruise missile, gravity bomb). Modern warheads are typically thermonuclear and yield 100-500 kt. The W76 and W88 are the most common US warheads; the B61 is a variable-yield gravity bomb.
Related terms
ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile)
A long-range ballistic missile (range > 5,500 km) designed to deliver nuclear warheads between continents.
SLBM (Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile)
A ballistic missile launched from a submerged submarine, providing a survivable second-strike nuclear capability.
MIRV
Multiple Independently-targetable Reentry Vehicle — a single missile carrying several warheads, each able to strike a different target.