Tomahawk Missile

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
Tomahawk cruise Missile

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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