# reentry vehicle > component of a long-range ballistic missile that reenters the atmosphere **Wikidata**: [Q11394951](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11394951) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/reentry-vehicle ## Summary A reentry vehicle is the component of a long-range ballistic missile that reenters an atmosphere. It is the vehicle element designed to survive atmospheric entry and deliver one or more warheads or payloads to a target area. ## Key Facts - A reentry vehicle (aliases: "re-entry vehicle", "RV") is the component of a long-range ballistic missile that reenters the atmosphere. - Reentry vehicles are sometimes part of a ballistic missile (structured property: part_of = ballistic missile; qualifier: sometimes). - The reentry vehicle class is defined as a vehicle designed to reenter an atmosphere intact. (sitelink_count: 2) - Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) is a related class: a ballistic missile payload containing several warheads capable of independent targeting. (sitelink_count: 35) - Maneuverable reentry vehicle is a related class: a ballistic missile warhead capable of autonomously tracking ground targets. (sitelink_count: 13) - Chevaline Re-entry Body is a related class that denotes the atmospheric entry vehicle containing the nuclear warhead used by the British Chevaline system. (sitelink_count: 1) - In structured classification data this entity is listed under the broader category "reentry vehicle" (subclass_of: reentry vehicle). - Wikidata description: "component of a long-range ballistic missile that reenters the atmosphere." - Google Knowledge Graph identifier: /g/121kdq61. - Wikipedia language links are present in German (de) and Japanese (ja). ## FAQs ### Q: What does a reentry vehicle do? A: A reentry vehicle is designed to reenter an atmosphere intact and deliver its payload after free-flight through space. It is the missile component that transitions from exo-atmospheric flight to atmospheric descent. ### Q: Are reentry vehicles the same as warheads? A: A reentry vehicle can contain a warhead, but the term refers to the protective and delivery vehicle that reenters the atmosphere; for example, the Chevaline Re-entry Body contained a nuclear warhead. ### Q: What is a MIRV? A: MIRV stands for multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle, a class of ballistic missile payload that carries several warheads, each capable of being aimed at different targets independently. ### Q: What is a maneuverable reentry vehicle? A: A maneuverable reentry vehicle is a class of ballistic missile warhead capable of autonomously tracking ground targets during reentry. ## Why It Matters Reentry vehicles are the focal hardware that enables long-range ballistic missiles to deliver payloads from space to targets on or near a planetary surface. As the element designed to survive the extreme thermal and mechanical stresses of atmospheric entry, the reentry vehicle determines whether a carried warhead or payload can reach and function at its intended target. Variants such as MIRVs change targeting dynamics by allowing multiple independently aimed warheads from a single missile, increasing flexibility and target coverage. Maneuverable reentry vehicles add autonomous in-atmosphere guidance capability, altering terminal-phase targeting behavior. Specific designs—such as the Chevaline Re-entry Body—illustrate that reentry vehicles can also be specialized to house particular warheads or systems. Overall, reentry vehicles are central to the performance, survivability, and targeting characteristics of ballistic missile delivery systems. ## Notable For - Being the missile component that reenters an atmosphere intact and carries payloads to target. - Existence of MIRV variants that enable multiple independently targetable warheads from a single missile. - Existence of maneuverable reentry vehicles that can autonomously track ground targets during reentry. - Illustrated use in national systems, e.g., the Chevaline Re-entry Body that contained a British nuclear warhead. - Commonly abbreviated as "RV" and also written "re-entry vehicle." ## Body ### Definition and core function - A reentry vehicle is defined as the vehicle component that reenters an atmosphere intact. - Its primary function is to protect and deliver payloads (such as warheads) through atmospheric entry. - The entity is described on Wikidata as "component of a long-range ballistic missile that reenters the atmosphere." ### Classification and relationships - Classified within the broader reentry vehicle class (subclass_of: reentry vehicle). - Sometimes part of a ballistic missile (part_of: ballistic missile; qualifier: sometimes). - Has related classes: - Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV): ballistic missile payload with several independently targetable warheads. (sitelink_count: 35) - Maneuverable reentry vehicle: ballistic missile warhead with autonomous ground-target tracking capability. (sitelink_count: 13) - Chevaline Re-entry Body: atmospheric entry vehicle that contained the nuclear warhead used by the British Chevaline system. (sitelink_count: 1) ### Naming and identifiers - Aliases: "re-entry vehicle", "RV". - Wikidata description matches the core definition provided. - Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/121kdq61. - Wikipedia language links exist for German (de) and Japanese (ja). - Sitelink_count reported for the main class: 2. ### Variants and examples (as classes) - MIRV: allows multiple warheads from one missile to independently target separate locations. - Maneuverable reentry vehicle: adds autonomous terminal-phase tracking to the warhead. - Chevaline Re-entry Body: an example class tied to a historical British system and a nuclear warhead. ### Metadata notes - Structured data marks the entity as sometimes part of ballistic missiles rather than always. - The available sitelink counts indicate the presence and prominence of related class pages in linked data.