4

4 comments

[–] CDanger [OP] 1 points (+1|-0)

Pretty incredible tech

Sprint accelerated at 100 g, reaching a speed of Mach 10 in 5 seconds. Such a high velocity at relatively low altitudes created skin temperatures up to 6,200 °F (3,430 °C), requiring an ablative shield to dissipate the heat.[1][2] The high temperature caused a plasma to form around the missile, requiring extremely powerful radio signals to reach it for guidance. The missile glowed bright white as it flew.

As the missile cleared the silo, the first stage fired and the missile was tilted toward its target. The first stage was exhausted after only 1.2 seconds, but produced 650,000 pounds-force (2,900 kilonewtons) of thrust. On separation, the spent first stage disintegrated due to aerodynamic forces. The second stage fired within 1 to 2 seconds of launch. Interception at an altitude of one to eighteen miles' altitude (1.5 to 30 km) took at most 15 seconds.

The Sprint was armed with an enhanced radiation nuclear warhead with a yield reportedly of a few kilotons, though the exact number has not been declassified. The warhead was intended to destroy the incoming reentry vehicle primarily by neutron flux.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprint_(missile)

[–] xyzzy 1 points (+1|-0) Edited

enhanced radiation nuclear warhead

Nuclear defensive missiles, what a nice way to deliver that healthy fallout back home.

[–] CDanger [OP] 0 points (+0|-0)

Most radioactive fallout is produced as a result of the weapons kicking up dirt with the fireball. These explode at altitude, so can't have fallout (taps head).