Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicle, or MIRV is a collection of nuclear weapons carried on a single intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or a submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM). Using a MIRV warhead, a single launched missile can strike several targets, or fewer targets redundantly. By contrast a unitary warhead is a single warhead on a single missile.
The US Minuteman 3 is the only US land-based MIRV ICBM currently in use. These MIRV capable ICBM’s are especially used because they are harder to counter with anti ballistic missile systems due to number of independent re-entry vehicles in the re-entry phase. True to keeping the world more on edge, the Russians are developing the Bulava(SS-27 class) sea-launched MIRV ICBM. Supposedly the most advanced MIRV ICBM to date and still under development. This is obviously in response to the US Ballistic missile “Shield” that is under development.
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