Shiva-class nuclear missile

The Shiva-Class Nuclear Missile is a starship and starfighter launched thermonuclear weapon used by the United Nations Space Command. The Shiva can be outfitted with various payloads and explosive yields, with a maximum yield of about 20 megatons.

These missiles are often employed by the UNSC in ship-to-ship engagements with the Covenant Empire. The use of nuclear weapons, such as the Shiva, are only used when both Human forces are outnumbered, or tactical situations that demand the use of such.

Background
The Shiva missile is used on all warships in the UNSC including large Supercarriers such as the. The Shiva is stored in a ship's nuclear storage bay until it is time to be deployed. Once launched from the ship, its onboard guidance system can guide the warhead to its intended target. However, the warhead's course can be corrected mid-flight by the ship's navigation officer or artificial intelligence.

The warhead can also be fitted on Longsword-class Interceptors for a low-profile insertion. The Shiva can be detonated by two methods: radio transmission code sequence, or a proximity fuse, whichever method is most effective for the situation. Space-based weapons are preferred in combat situations with the Covenant because of the massive Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) released by such warheads like the Shiva; this is most effective for disabling electronics aboard nearby enemy ships; this was done by SPARTAN-II Gray Team during the Battle of the Rubble during the Human-Covenant War.

Trivia

 * Shiva is the name of the Hindu god of both disaster and peace, who would destroy the world in order for it to be recreated.
 * It should be noted that the shields of Covenant capital ship have enough power to absorb a full thermonuclear blast from long distances, but not a direct hit. If the warhead detonates inside the shield, the effects of the blast is multiplied tremendously, due to the ship's shields containing the blast. This was demonstrated in the Battle of Reach by Captain Jacob Keyes while commanding the . However, it should also be noted that because of the varying payloads, a lighter warhead may not be able to eliminate a Covenant ship's shields, even from close range.