Meaning of MIRV | Babel Free

Definitions

Initialism of multiple independently-targettable reentry vehicle; the independently targettable reentry capsule for a ballistic missile's payload, typically a nuclear weapon, where the missile has multiple instances of such.

abbreviation, alt-of, initialism

Examples

“Picking up where we had left off at Vladivostok, we discussed verification of underground nuclear tests that each side could conduct, and also the rules for counting MIRVs — how to tell⟳ whether a missile had a single or a multiple warhead. There the Soviets granted a concession. If they placed a MIRV in a certain location, then we had the right to assume⟳ that every missile in that field had a MIRV capability.”

“The M.I.R.V. is a tactical nuke. Uh, fifty kilotons, nominal yield⟳, say⟳… five times Hiroshima.”

CEFR level