Missile BGM-109 TLAM Tomahawk

The BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is an American long-range, subsonic cruise missile designed for precision land-attack warfare. It is one of the most combat-proven weapons in the U.S. arsenal, with over 2,500 missiles fired in combat since 1991.

Development

The Tomahawk originated from a 1972 U.S. Navy program for a submarine-launched cruise missile. General Dynamics won the competitive fly-off against LTV in 1976, and the missile entered service in 1983. Production was later transferred to McDonnell Douglas (1992), then Hughes Aircraft (1994), before Raytheon (now RTX) acquired it in 1997 and remains the sole manufacturer.

The missile has evolved through several major variants. The initial Block I included a nuclear-armed version (TLAM-N with W-80 warhead) and an anti-ship variant (TASM). Block II/III (1986-1993) introduced conventional warheads, GPS guidance, and extended range to 1,600 km. The Block IV Tactical Tomahawk (2004) added a two-way satellite datalink for in-flight retargeting, loitering capability, and an onboard camera for battle damage assessment. The current Block V (2021) upgrades communications and extends service life, while the Block Va Maritime Strike Tomahawk (MST) restores anti-ship capability with a multi-mode seeker for engaging moving vessels.

Guidance and performance

The Tomahawk uses a combination of GPS, inertial navigation, and terrain contour matching (TERCOM) to fly at very low altitude and evade radar detection. Terminal guidance on some variants includes digital scene-matching area correlation (DSMAC), which compares stored target imagery to the actual scene. These combined systems deliver a CEP of approximately 10 meters.

The missile cruises at subsonic speed (~880 km/h) and can cover up to 2,500 km depending on the variant. Its low-altitude flight profile makes it difficult to detect, though its subsonic speed leaves it vulnerable to modern air defense systems.

Combat record

The Tomahawk has been used extensively in every major U.S. military operation since 1991:

The missile's first combat use came during Desert Storm, when USS Louisville became the first submarine to fire a Tomahawk in combat. The United Kingdom first used its Tomahawks in Afghanistan in 2001 from HMS Trafalgar.

International operators

Beyond the United States, the Tomahawk has been exported to a growing number of allies. The United Kingdom has operated submarine-launched Tomahawks since 1998 from its Trafalgar-class and Astute-class SSNs. Japan signed a $1.7 billion contract for 400 missiles in 2024 for deployment on its Aegis destroyers. Australia received approval for up to 220 missiles for its Hobart-class destroyers, with the first test firing from HMAS Brisbane in December 2024. The Netherlands was approved for 175 Block V missiles in 2025, conducting its first test launch from HNLMS De Ruyter in March 2025.

Production

Over 9,000 Tomahawk missiles of all variants have been produced since 1983. Recent production rates have been low (22 to 68 missiles per year), far below the operational consumption rate seen in 2024-2025. In response, RTX announced a framework agreement in February 2026 targeting over 1,000 missiles per year, driven by depleted U.S. stockpiles and growing international demand.