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1994-11-02
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The Tomahawk is actually an entire family of cruise missiles that can be
adapted to various strategic or tactical applications against land targets
more than 1,500 miles away. The Tomahawk flies at speeds of more than
500 miles per hour.
Using a modified Harpoon guidance system with inertial navigation plus a
radar altimeter for midcourse correction, the Tomahawk uses an active radar
system for its terminal approach. The Tomahawk flies a ballistic trajectory
during its initial launch and boost phase and then descends to sea or land-
skimming level as it nears the target. After the target has been acquired
and locked on, the 264-pound high-explosive warhead fuses with a delayed-
detonation device that enables the missile to burrow deep into the target
before exploding.
Nearly every missile-capable ship in the U.S. Navy is armed with Tomahawk
missiles, and it has become the standard nuclear cruise missile for U.S.
submarines as well.