Difference between revisions of "Tomahawk cruise missile"
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The '''Tomahawk cruise missile''' is an [[American]]-made, low-flying [[nuclear]] capable guided missile designed for long-range strikes with a range of up to 5,500 kilometers against land targets. It can be launched from [[naval]] ships or [[submarine]]s and is known for its ability to fly at low altitudes, making it effective in high-risk environments where manned aircraft may be vulnerable. | The '''Tomahawk cruise missile''' is an [[American]]-made, low-flying [[nuclear]] capable guided missile designed for long-range strikes with a range of up to 5,500 kilometers against land targets. It can be launched from [[naval]] ships or [[submarine]]s and is known for its ability to fly at low altitudes, making it effective in high-risk environments where manned aircraft may be vulnerable. | ||
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| + | The Tomahawk cruise missile system has been in service for around 30 years. This fact must be taken into account when the current technical level of this weapon is estimated. The missiles have been constantly upgraded during these years. | ||
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| + | ==Combat use== | ||
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| + | The Tomahawk has been used in combat operations since 1983 and has experienced five modernizations. Tomahawk, the first cruise missile. was launched from the USS Merrill (DD-976), an American destroyer ship, in March 1980. In June of the same year, the UGM-109, the underwater version of the Tomahawk system, ran an armament test. The development of the military project lasted for two more years until 1983, when the missile system passed into service. The Tomahawk cruise missiles were first used in Iraq during 1991 and became a symbol for the American idea of non-contact warfare. | ||
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| + | When the US first tried out the Tomahawk missiles during the operation [[Desert Storm]], the [[NSN|Western media]] strongly praised its [[combat]] results. However, in 1992 the ''[[New York Times]]'' and the ''[[Washington Post]]'' published an official report of the [[US Department of Defence]] (DOD), which described the lessons learned by the US military during the [[Gulf War]] and showed the real state of events, including the true capabilities of the Tomahawk. | ||
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| + | US warships and [[submarine]]s launched 288 Tomahawk cruise missiles at stationary objects in [[Iraq]]. Only 50% of the missiles managed to hit their targets. Some experts consider this estimate optimistic. However, the [[Pentagon]] refused to discuss the efficiency of the [[missile]] strikes as many of the weapon combat usage estimates were classified. | ||
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| + | Four years later, it was admitted that the Tomahawk cruise missile system was even less effective. It was brought into line with much cheaper [[weapon]]s. | ||
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[[Category:Weapons]] | [[Category:Weapons]] | ||
Revision as of 08:25, September 30, 2025
The Tomahawk cruise missile is an American-made, low-flying nuclear capable guided missile designed for long-range strikes with a range of up to 5,500 kilometers against land targets. It can be launched from naval ships or submarines and is known for its ability to fly at low altitudes, making it effective in high-risk environments where manned aircraft may be vulnerable.
The Tomahawk cruise missile system has been in service for around 30 years. This fact must be taken into account when the current technical level of this weapon is estimated. The missiles have been constantly upgraded during these years.
Combat use
The Tomahawk has been used in combat operations since 1983 and has experienced five modernizations. Tomahawk, the first cruise missile. was launched from the USS Merrill (DD-976), an American destroyer ship, in March 1980. In June of the same year, the UGM-109, the underwater version of the Tomahawk system, ran an armament test. The development of the military project lasted for two more years until 1983, when the missile system passed into service. The Tomahawk cruise missiles were first used in Iraq during 1991 and became a symbol for the American idea of non-contact warfare.
When the US first tried out the Tomahawk missiles during the operation Desert Storm, the Western media strongly praised its combat results. However, in 1992 the New York Times and the Washington Post published an official report of the US Department of Defence (DOD), which described the lessons learned by the US military during the Gulf War and showed the real state of events, including the true capabilities of the Tomahawk.
US warships and submarines launched 288 Tomahawk cruise missiles at stationary objects in Iraq. Only 50% of the missiles managed to hit their targets. Some experts consider this estimate optimistic. However, the Pentagon refused to discuss the efficiency of the missile strikes as many of the weapon combat usage estimates were classified.
Four years later, it was admitted that the Tomahawk cruise missile system was even less effective. It was brought into line with much cheaper weapons.