Tomahawk Missile:
The US has entered Israel’s war with Iran, launching precision strikes on Tehran’s key nuclear facilities using Tomahawk cruise missiles and GBU-57 bunker busters.
- Tomahawk Missile is a long-range, subsonic cruise missile developed by the United States Navy.
- It is launched from ships or submarines through a Vertical Launch System and used for precision strikes on land-based targets.
- Tomahawks were first deployed in combat during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Since then, they have been used in several major conflicts, including strikes in Syria in 2017.
- Tomahawks 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).
- Tomahawks measure 18.3 feet in length and weigh about 3,200 pounds (4,400 with booster).
- They carry a 1,000-pound conventional warhead or cluster munitions.
- It is powered by a solid propellant during its launch phase. Thereafter, it is powered by a turbofan engine that does not emit much heat, which makes infrared detection difficult.
- Each Tomahawk missile reportedly costs around $2 million.
