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A lot of modern AA missiles don't use any traditional shrapnel at all. They use what's called a continuous rod warhead. It's a bunch of steel rods arranged as
by DebtDeflation 2y ago
A lot of modern AA missiles don't use any traditional shrapnel at all. They use what's called a continuous rod warhead. It's a bunch of steel rods arranged as a cylinder with alternating ends welded to each other on each side effectively making it one long rod. The explosive charge is placed in the middle and when it goes off the rod expands into one big rod in a circle which then cuts the aircraft in half.
- JohnBooty 2y agoYeah, it's fascinating to me. In casual discussions (the only kind I am qualified to have) I just refer to it all generically as "shrapnel" but as you say it's more nuanced in practice. For casual discussions it's IMO generally sufficient to just call it all shrapnel, to differentiate between reality and the Hollywood images of missiles slamming directly into planes and making big fiery explosions.