An Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) is a large rocket that can transport and detonate nuclear warheads over a range of at least 5,500 kilometres. Six countries are known to have ICBMs, and North Korea is allegedly developing their own. To date, no country has used an ICBM outside of tests, and their existence is based entirely on the principle of Mutually Assured Destruction. Still, those countries with ICBM strive to push the technology, resulting in modern ICBMs with ranges of up to 16,000 km and speeds over Mach 20 (~25,000 km/h). The current 'tour de force' being sought after by many countries is achieving a system that allows for a 'Prompt Global Strike': the ability to deploy a nuclear strike anywhere in the world in one hour. To date, no country has accomplished the feat.
Bonus:
In 2012 North Korea put a satellite into orbit, which some have suggested may have been an ICBM test disguised as a satellite launch. Regardless of the motivation, this put North Korea on the list of only 9 countries that have succeeded in an orbital launch.
-E
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire