From ship to shore: How the Tomahawk missile dominates land-attack missions

The Tomahawk missile was initially introduced to the US Navy fleet in 1983 and has continued to serve as a crucial weapon for land-attack missions launched from ships and submarines, thanks to several recertifications over the years. Although it has been extensively used since its debut, the Tomahawk missile is most famous for its contributions during the Persian Wars.

Tomahawk Missile’s Feature Some Incredible Capabilities

With a price tag of around $1 million each, the Tomahawk missile delivers a big impact. Capable of reaching speeds of up to 550 miles per hour, it boasts a range of 700 to 1,350 nautical miles, depending on the variant deployed, and can successfully strike targets even in heavily defended airspace.

A BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile, armed with a live 1,000 pound Bullpup conventional warhead, detonates and explodes its target, a warehouse-size concrete and steel structure with 7,000-pound concrete roof panels. (Photo Credit: Corbis / Getty Images).

The missile can be equipped with 160 bomblets, a 1,000-pound conventional warhead, or a W80 nuclear warhead. Utilizing GPS, inertial navigation, and terrain contour matching, the Tomahawk achieves precision within ten yards of its target. It can also execute evasive maneuvers at extremely low altitudes, enabling it to neutralize a variety of targets with minimal collateral damage.

Tomahawk Missiles are built for Mods

The weapon’s design is intended to resemble a “flying torpedo,” a goal it achieves effectively. Its appearance has remained largely unchanged since its inception. The sleek design ensures compatibility with vertical launch systems on surface ships as well as torpedo tubes on submarines.

A Tomahawk cruise missile was launched from the stern vertical launch system of the USS Shiloh (CG 67) on Sept. 3, 1996, as part of Operation Desert Strike. (Photo Credit: DOD / Getty Images).

With a 30-year shelf life, the missile requires recertification upon reaching its expiration. This process not only ensures the missile remains combat-ready but also provides an opportunity to add modifications that boost its lethality.

The Tomahawk missile was designed with a modular structure, allowing for straightforward internal modifications and upgrades. Efficient components can be retained, while those requiring replacement can be swapped out without impacting the missile’s overall internal configuration.

A close-up view of an AGM-109 Tomahawk air-launched cruise missile on the ground after impact, 1979. (Photo Credit: HUM Images / Universal Images Group / Getty Images).

Block Va/Vb

Block Va allows this variant of the Tomahawk to strike moving targets at sea. It has a new seeker that is capable of accurately identifying and targeting warships as far as 1,000 miles away. This variant brings the US Navy up to speed with Russian and Chinese adversaries that were already equipped with long-range anti-ship munitions.

Tomahawk cruise missiles awaiting inspection at the end of their production, 1989. (Photo Credit: Bettmann / Getty Images).

Block Vb has a joint multi-effects warhead that allows the Tomahawk to hit more diverse land targets. It is a hard-target kill variant that is capable of destroying densely-constructed enemy assets which previously would have required more specialized munitions.

International interest

New! Want to become a trivia master? Sign up for our War History Fact of the Day newsletter!

Beyond its use by the US, the Tomahawk missile has also been used by the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy in a number of operations, and now all Royal Navy fleet submarines are Tomahawk missile capable. Additionally, there had previously been expressed interest in acquiring the missile by countries like Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, and Australia, though many had not followed through with their orders.