Tomahawk missiles

Prelims : Current events of National and International importance

Why in News?

As part of Operation Midnight Hammer, the US used Tomahawk missiles to strike Iran’s nuclear sites.

• Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is a long-range, subsonic cruise missile.
• Developed by - US Navy.
• It is launched from ships or submarines through a Vertical Launch System and used for precision strikes on land-based targets.
• Features – It can fly at low altitudes, avoiding radar detection, and are guided by advanced GPS, inertial navigation, and terrain contour mapping.
• This makes them highly accurate, with a margin of error of just 10 meters.
• They are built to follow a non-linear path, reducing the chance of interception.
• These missiles have a range between 1,000 and 1,500 miles (1,550 to 2,500 km).
• It measures 18.3 feet long, weighs 3,200 pounds (4,400 with booster).
• The missile is also designed to carry a 1,000-pound conventional warhead or cluster munitions.
• First used during Operation Dust Storm in the 1991 Gulf War.
• The same weapon was used in the 2017 strikes against Syria.

Reference

Hindustan Times | Tomahawk missiles