A photon warhead warning label
A warhead was the explosive on a projectile weapon. The word was also used as a euphemism for the entire weapon. In most situations the warhead was attached to a device called a fuse, which detonated the weapon at an advantageous time.
Many different warheads were used throughout the history of the galaxy. Examples include:
- Antimatter warheads, as used in photonic torpedoes (ENT: "The Expanse")
- Bio-molecular warheads, that could be installed to photon torpedoes (VOY: "Scorpion, Part II")
- Cobalt fusion warheads, as used in Lysian weaponry (TNG: "Conundrum")
- Nuclear warheads, as used on Earth in the 1960s (TOS: "Assignment: Earth")
- Photon warheads, as used in photon torpedoes (DS9: "Tribunal")
- Photonic warheads, as used in Vissian torpedoes (ENT: "Cogenitor")
- Plasma warheads, as used in quantum torpedoes (DS9: "For the Uniform")
- Radiogenic warheads, that could be installed to torpedoes (DS9: "Valiant")
- Subspace warheads (VOY: "Human Error")
- Thermonuclear warheads, as used in Ekosian missiles (TOS: "Patterns of Force")
- Tri-cobalt warheads, as used in tricobalt devices (VOY: "Caretaker"; ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly")
- Isolytic burst warheads, as used on Son'a vessels and the Shrike, illegal according to the Second Khitomer Accords (Star Trek: Insurrection; PIC: "Disengage")
History[]
In 1968, in response to a nuclear warhead being placed in sub-orbit by another major power, the United States launched a suborbital platform with multi-warhead capacity for the purpose of maintaining the balance of power. (TOS: "Assignment: Earth")
In 2372, Benjamin Sisko had Miles O'Brien equip the USS Defiant's atmospheric probes with warheads from the quantum torpedoes to be used against two Jem'Hadar fighters. (DS9: "Starship Down")
In 2375, a warhead of unknown origin, which was a series 5 long-range tactical armor unit and was equipped with an artificial intelligence, was found on a planet in the Delta Quadrant. (VOY: "Warhead")