TOMAHAWK

Origin--USA
Type-Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile

Technical Specification

Dimensions
Length :                     18 ft 3 in (5.56 m); with booster 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m)
Body Diameter :         20. 4 in ( 51.81 cm)
Weight:                     2, 900 lb (1,315.44 kg); with booster 3,500 lb(1,587.6 kg)
Payload:                   1000 lb
Guidance:                  TERCOM, DSMAC, and GPS (Block III only)
Fuel:                         Solid fuel
Range :                     870 nautical miles (1000 statute miles, 1609 km)
Warhead :                1,000 pounds or conventional sub munitions dispenser                                  with combined effect bomblets

The Tomahawk is a highly accurate missile powered by a jet engine. It can be launched from land-based launchers, ships and submarines. It can fly more than 500 miles to the target, navigating along a pre-programmed route that follows specific terrain features. The Tomahawk missiles can be launched against short-range tactical targets such as ships, or against strategic targets several thousand kilometres away.

The anti-ship version travels a few metres above sea level. It can climb, locate the target through its own sensing devices, and dodge before making a final, high-speed diving attack. The land version of this missile can also travel at a low altitude to avoid radar detection. The Tomahawk land attack missiles can carry a 1,000-pound class high explosive or a sub-munitions warhead. The Tomahawk is capable of attacking land targets that are fixed or not easily re-locatable. Between 1991 and 1993, the US had used 288 Tomahawk missiles against Iraq.

The route from a launching site till the target is identified to ensure a successful launch. The route must be within the missiles' range and must not contain any obstacles to its flight such as steep mountains or concentrations of enemy air defences. The route identification till the target and other important information are fed into the missile before launching. It allows the Tomahawk to make its own decisions for climbing, dodging and locating the target.

In the later version of the Tomahawk Block III, the Global Positioning System (GPS), commonly used in cell phones, is used. The GPS frees the Tomahawk from having to fly over difficult terrain.