This picture shows a 1986 test of a Tomahawk Missle that traveled 640km (~400 miles) and detonated over a decommissioned fighter plane. (Click on picture to enlarge). If you look closely, especially at the 2nd panel, can you see that the plane is on fire even though the debris from the missile hasn’t reached it yet? How can that be?
(Thanks to the Bad Astronomy website for this picture and background info!)
The heat from the missile exploding moves faster then the speed of sound. If it was infared heat waves then you couldnt see it going from the missile to the plane.
-Rachel