What Is A Tomahawk Cruise Missile?

Yesterday the United States launched a missile strike against Syria. Fifty-nine Tomahawk Cruise Missiles fired from two naval ships struck the airfield believed to be the origin of the heinous chemical weapons attack perpetrated earlier this week. Our readers may be wondering, “What exactly is the Tomahawk?” Liberty Nation is here to help.

The Tomahawk is a seaborne, long-range, subsonic cruise missile. Currently employed by the U.S. and British Royal Navies, the Tomahawk missile has been used in every major conflict since the Gulf War and has gone through several model upgrades. The current model, Block IV, is GPS capable with an active radar homing. With a range and speed of 1000 miles and 550 mph, the missile has a two-way satellite link that allows it to be redirected mid-flight to a preprogrammed or new target. The missile is even capable of loitering over a target area until directed to strike.

Fired from a ship or submarine, the Tomahawk carries either a 1,000-pound conventional high explosive warhead or a cluster munitions dispenser which contains 166 combined-effects bomblets. These bomblets allow the Tomahawk to operate as an area of effect weapon.

Will we see more of the Tomahawk? Undoubtedly. The weapon offers the ability to strike strategically against heavily defended targets with precision while keeping service members a safe distance away. If President Trump prefers Clinton-era, long-distance, punitive missile strikes over a prolonged ground and air campaign, there will be more to come.