Nuclear weapons represent some of the most devastating devices ever created by humankind. When detonated, the explosion can unleash incredible destruction through intense heat, powerful shockwaves, and harmful radiation. A key factor determining the impact of a nuclear weapon is how fast it can reach its target after being launched. This article will provide an overview of the speeds at which various nuclear delivery systems can travel.
ICBMs
Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are a common nuclear delivery system designed to carry warheads over extremely long distances. After being launched, an ICBM briefly travels vertically upward before arching over and free-falling onto its distant target at incredible speeds.
Modern ICBMs like the LGM-30 Minuteman III used by the United States can reach speeds as high as 15,000 mph (24,000 km/h) during the free-fall segment of their trajectory. At these velocities, an ICBM launched from the U.S. mainland could strike a target nearly 7,500 miles (12,000 km) away in about 30 minutes.
Russia’s new Sarmat ICBM is reported to be even faster, potentially attaining peak speeds up to 17,000 mph (27,000 km/h). This extreme velocity would allow it to deliver warheads essentially anywhere in the world within around 15-20 minutes.
Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles
Like ICBMs, submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) are designed to strike distant targets quickly. SLBMs are fired from nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines hiding stealthily underwater.
Modern SLBMs like the U.S. Navy’s Trident II can attain speeds over 13,000 mph (21,000 km/h) during their free-fall toward their targets. Russia claims its new Bulava SLBM can reach up to 18,000 mph (29,000 km/h).
The incredible speed of SLBMs allows them to potentially devastate coastal targets within 10-15 minutes of launch. This short time frame gives defenders little margin to react.
Cruise Missiles
Unlike ballistic missiles, cruise missiles remain within Earth’s atmosphere during flight. Modern nuclear-capable cruise missiles like the U.S. BGM-109 Tomahawk generally fly at around 550 mph (885 km/h).
While much slower than ballistic missiles, cruise missiles can still strike targets hundreds or thousands of miles away within 1-2 hours. Their lower trajectories also make them harder to detect on radar. Russia is developing hypersonic cruise missiles capable of attaining speeds over 3,800 mph (6,100 km/h).
Aircraft
Aircraft equipped to carry nuclear bombs or missiles also represent a threat. While not as fast as dedicated ICBMs or SLBMs, bombers like the U.S. B-2 Spirit stealth bomber have intercontinental ranges and can fly at over 600 mph (965 km/h).
Fighter jets armed with nuclear bombs or missiles may be limited in range compared to bombers, but are still very fast. Aircraft like the U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle can attain speeds of over 1,600 mph (2,575 km/h).
Artillery Shells
Certain artillery guns and howitzers have been designed to fire nuclear artillery shells. These compact nuclear weapons can devastate battlefield targets from shorter ranges of under 20 miles (32 km).
Nuclear artillery shells travel in a ballistic arc similar to ICBMs, just on a smaller scale. Muzzle velocities for nuclear-capable artillery systems are around 2,700 mph (4,345 km/h), with the shells rapidly decelerating due to drag.
Suitcase Bombs
Small, portable nuclear devices light enough to be carried in a suitcase or backpack are referred to as suitcase bombs. Because of their small size, suitcase bombs must rely on direct manual placement and detonation.
While incredibly dangerous, the lack of a launching system limits the speed of these crude nuclear devices to just that of a human carrier. Their relatively short potential blast radius also requires them to be smuggled very close to an intended target.
Space Launch Vehicles
Rockets used to launch satellites and spacecraft into orbit could potentially be adapted to deliver a nuclear warhead across continents or oceans very quickly.
Space launch vehicles like the SpaceX Falcon 9 can accelerate to over 15,000 mph (24,000 km/h) on ascent. In theory, a nuclear-armed orbital rocket could devastate distant targets within 10-20 minutes of launch. However, no nation is known to have developed such a weapon.
Nuclear Hand Grenades
Very compact man-portable nuclear explosives with yields of less than 1 ton TNT equivalent have been proposed as nuclear hand grenades. These could be lethal within a radius of tens of meters.
With a light enough weight, these miniature devices could theoretically be thrown by hand or launched from an underslung grenade launcher. Velocities would be similar to that of conventional hand grenades, around 200 mph (322 km/h).
Speed Comparison Table
| Nuclear Delivery System | Top Speed |
|---|---|
| ICBM (Minuteman III) | 15,000 mph |
| SLBM (Trident II) | 13,000 mph |
| Cruise Missile (Tomahawk) | 550 mph |
| Bomber (B-2 Spirit) | 600 mph |
| Fighter Jet (F-15E) | 1,600 mph |
| Artillery Shell | 2,700 mph |
| Suitcase Bomb | Human running speed |
| Space Launch Vehicle | 15,000+ mph |
| Nuclear Hand Grenade | 200 mph |
Factors Affecting Speed
The extreme speeds attained by nuclear-armed missiles and aircraft are driven by the need to deliver warheads to targets as rapidly as possible. However, several factors can affect the maximum speed of these delivery systems:
– Propulsion system power – More powerful rocket or jet engines allow higher velocities.
– Vehicle mass – Heavier delivery systems accelerate slower and have lower top speeds. Reducing empty weight increases speed.
– Aerodynamics – Shape optimization reduces drag, allowing greater speed especially within the atmosphere.
– Flight profile – Ballistic trajectories attain higher peaks speeds than low-altitude cruise flight paths.
– Range – Longer flight distances generally require higher launch speeds.
– Guidance – Advanced guidance systems enable more optimal trajectories.
Defense Against High-Speed Threats
The incredibly high velocities of nuclear-armed ballistic missiles make them difficult to intercept during the free-fall portion of flight. However, there are several approaches to defending against these threats:
– Anti-ballistic missiles – Kinetic interceptors like the U.S. Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system attempt to destroy incoming warheads in space.
– Laser defense – Technology like Israel’s Iron Beam uses focused energy beams to heat up and destroy inbound missiles.
– Cyber/electronic warfare – Jamming or hacking missile systems can potentially disable launches or divert missiles.
– Preemptive strikes – Eliminating nuclear launch sites and delivery vehicles before an attack removes the threat.
– Passive defense – Infrastructure hardening, evacuation, and shelters can reduce damage from nuclear detonations.
– Diplomacy – Preventing conditions that could lead to nuclear war through deterrence and deescalation of tensions.
The Destructive Power of Nuclear Weapons
Nuclear weapons deliver their city-destroying energy in just millionths of a second. But the many ways humanity has devised to deliver these weapons of mass destruction across continents and oceans in minutes or hours only compounds their horrible devastation potential.
The incredible speeds described in this article underscore why nuclear arms control efforts remain critical over 75 years after the dawn of the atomic age. Diplomacy, verified disarmament agreements, and fostering mutual understanding between nuclear powers provide the only true path toward reducing the risk humanity could quickly unleash nuclear fire anywhere on Earth.
Conclusion
In summary, different nuclear delivery systems can travel at vastly different velocities based on their method of propulsion and intended range. Intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles can attain peak speeds over 15,000 mph, allowing them to potentially deliver warheads between distant continents in as little as 10-30 minutes. Aircraft equipped to carry nuclear weapons generally travel at hundreds to low thousands of miles per hour. Shorter range systems like cruise missiles, artillery shells, suitcase bombs, and hand grenades reach speeds measured in hundreds or thousands of miles per hour.
The incredible speed of delivery for many nuclear weapons presents major challenges for defense systems. Diplomacy and disarmament focused on reducing nuclear arsenals and preventing proliferation remain critical to limiting the threat these weapons could be launched across global distances in minutes. Careful analysis of the velocities described here provides insight into the nuclear threat environment and informing how the world can work to make these terrible weapons obsolete.