Cruise Missile

Guided missile that flies at low altitudes to evade enemy defense systems. The cruise missile's ability to pinpoint a target hundreds of miles away and strike almost without warning makes it one of the most widely used offensive weapons in modern military arsenals.

A cruise missile consists of a powerful explosive warhead mounted in a missile that is equipped with an on-board computer guidance system. Before launch, the location of the target is programmed into the missile's computer. The on-board computer stores maps of the missile's routes, including topographic data that [Page 173]enable the cruise missile to follow the contour of the terrain. This makes the weapon virtually impossible to detect. A modern cruise missile can fly for 2,000 miles at altitudes as low as 50 feet and at speeds over 600 mph.

One of five BQM-74 test drone cruise missiles being launched from an amphibious assault ship, the USS Essex, in early 2004. These drones are remote controlled, GPS-guided cruise missiles used to simulate threat aircraft and missiles for weapons system testing, evaluation, and training. Traveling at speeds ranging from 200 to 540 knots, they can reach an altitude of 40,000 feet and travel for 520 nautical miles.

U.S. Navy.

The first operational cruise-type missile was the German V-1 rocket, which was developed late in World War II as a long-range weapon to attack Great Britain. This early cruise missile, however, was unguided and had only a crude system to regulate its range. As a result, many overshot or fell short of their targets. The V-1 was also quite slow; most Allied fighters could catch it easily and either shoot it down or tip it off balance by striking its stabilizing fins with a wingtip. Despite its limitations, the V-1 inspired work that led to the development of the first modern cruise missiles in the 1970s.

The V-1 was launched from a long, stationary ramp, whereas modern cruise missiles can be launched from aircraft, ships, ground installations, or hand-held launchers. They can deliver conventional and even nuclear payloads. The newest generation of guided missiles, called Shadow Storm or Scalp missiles, have an enhanced ability to deliver precision attacks in all weather conditions using the Global Positioning System (GPS) and laser or infrared guidance systems. Britain, France, Greece, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates are currently purchasing Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

The most widely used cruise missile in the U.S. arsenal is the sea-launched Tomahawk missile. The U.S. Navy used Tomahawk cruise missiles to deliver conventional payloads accurately from hundreds of miles offshore during the Gulf War and the Iraq War of 2003. The U.S. Navy is currently testing new warheads for its Joint Standoff Weapon, an updated cruise missile manufactured by Raytheon Corporation, which also makes the Tomahawk.