Tomahawk (missile)

The Tomahawk, formally designated BGM-109, is an American long-range, all-weather, jet-powered subsonic cruise missile designed for precision land-attack strikes, originally developed by General Dynamics and now produced by Raytheon Missiles and Defense, and it entered service with the United States Navy in 1983. Launched from surface ships and submarines, the missile flies low and follows terrain-hugging or satellite-guided flight paths to strike fixed targets at long range while minimizing exposure to air defenses. It made its combat debut during the 1991 Gulf War, when American forces fired more than 288 Tomahawks against Iraqi targets, establishing the missile as a signature tool of American long-range precision strike doctrine. The Tomahawk has since been fired in numerous subsequent conflicts and has undergone repeated block upgrades extending its range, guidance accuracy and ability to strike moving or relocated targets.