Why in News?
Russian President Putin warned that supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine by the U.S. would escalate tensions, marking a new stage in the conflict, though it may not alter battlefield outcomes.
Description:
- Type: Subsonic cruise missile
- Launch Platform: Ships and submarines via Vertical Launch System (VLS)
- Target: Precision strikes on land-based targets
- First Combat Use: 1991, Operation Desert Storm
Flight & Guidance:
- Flight: Low-altitude, terrain-following → avoids radar detection
- Guidance: GPS, inertial navigation, terrain contour matching
- Accuracy: Margin of error ~ 10 meters
- Trajectory: Can follow non-linear paths to avoid interception
Specifications:
- Range: 1,000–1,500 miles (1,550–2,500 km)
- Length: 18.3 feet (~5.6 meters)
- Weight: 3,200 pounds (~1,450 kg) / 4,400 pounds with booster
- Warhead: 1,000-pound conventional or cluster munitions
- Propulsion: Solid booster + turbofan engine (low heat signature → hard to detect via infrared)
- Cost per missile: ~$2 million
Strategic Significance:
- Precision strike capability reduces collateral damage
- Non-linear flight path & low-altitude flight increase survivability against air defense
- Supports US Navy’s long-range strike doctrine
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