re-entry vehicle

noun

1. the portion of a ballistic missile that carries a nuclear warhead and re-enters the earth's atmosphere

Example Sentences

Even so, questions still hang over the viability of North Korea’s re-entry vehicle – the protected warhead that re-enters the atmosphere – and its missile guidance systems.

From Washington Times

Many questions remained unanswered about North Korea’s long-range missile program, such as whether the country can actually fly its missile on an intercontinental trajectory and whether it has mastered the technology for a “re-entry vehicle,” carrying a warhead, to detach from a missile at high altitude and survive the stresses of diving back into the atmosphere on its way to its target.

From New York Times

“New technologies tested included a possible hypersonic guiding warhead and a maneuverable re-entry vehicle,” the panel said.

From Washington Times

“New technologies tested included a possible hypersonic guiding warhead and a maneuverable re-entry vehicle,” the panel said.

From Seattle Times

The new missiles North Korea has tested in the past week also had a so-called maneuverable re-entry vehicle, or a warhead that can thwart missile defense systems by changing course in the atmosphere after it is detached from the booster rocket, South Korean defense officials said.

From New York Times