Alternatively, hitch bomb to a long distance carrier (4)
I believe the answer is:
icbm
'carrier' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for icbm that I've seen before include "Missile" , "Kind of powerful rocket" .)