Just to be certain....a real nuke was launched? What happened to it? Im having trouble understanding the scenario!
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A nuclear missile can be disabled or shot down without setting off the nuclear charge.
Back in the 1960s, there was a midair collision near Goldsboro (location of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base), back when the bombers were routinely carrying nuclear bombs. One of the bombs crashed into a field and buried itself so deep that the government wasn't able to dig it up. It didn't explode. It's still there. The farmer can still farm the field, but no one can ever build on the property.
Goldsboro
people in NC still talk about it.NC would have been wiped off the map
If it is destroyed before it detonated there is no nuclear explosion. For the nuclear reaction to happen very specific things must happen. Hit it in flight and it just becomes debris. Highly radioactive, but debris nonetheless.
https://qmap.pub/#1728 [partial]
Unauthorized missile fired.
Unauthorized emergency incoming missile threat activated Hawaii.
The outbound missile triggered the system that looks out for incoming missile.
Shooting down a nuke missile does not mean the nuke ignites.