Missile Systems | Cruise Missile | Patriot Missile | Missile Guidance

Cruise Missile

The cruise missile is a small pilotless aircraft. It can have either a conventional or nuclear warhead. The cruise missile is powered by a turbofan engine. It has an internal guidance system, which consists of a computer, and a radar system to maintain its course. The cruise missile's range is 3219 km, speed is 805 km/h, and its altitude is 15-100 m.

The most advanced cruise missile, which is the Tomahawk, is made in the U.S. It can be air launched from a bomber, or ground launched from a ship, sub, or a ground station.

Tercom - Terrain Contour matching system, guides the cruise missile. It controls the missile over land. Then matches the terrain below with a digital map, and corrects its path. The sources of the cruise missile preprogrammed data comes from reconnaissance with target data and routes. Then on magnetic tapes, it's read into the missile before launch.

The disadvantage about this weapon is it's vulnerable and slow, making it an easy target for a ballistic missile. Also, the Tercom may not function over a forest or over an arctic environment.

	The Tomahawk Pictorial diagram of the Tomahawk Cruise Missile.
	Path to Destruction Diagram of a Tomahawk's flight path launched from a war ship.