Sun Jun 22 04:30:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article:
**Summary:**
The article discusses the Tomahawk cruise missile, a subsonic weapon that has been a mainstay of the U.S. military for decades. Despite the global race for hypersonic weaponry, the U.S. continues to rely on the Tomahawk due to its reliability, accuracy, and versatility. It details the missile’s capabilities, including its range, speed, stealth, and navigation systems. It also highlights its extensive use in various conflicts, including the Gulf War, operations in Sudan and Afghanistan, the Iraq War, Libya, Syria, and most recently against Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and reportedly against Iranian nuclear sites.
**News Article:**
**U.S. Continues Reliance on Tomahawk Cruise Missile Amid Hypersonic Arms Race**
**Washington D.C.** – While nations worldwide are focused on developing supersonic and hypersonic missiles, the United States continues to heavily rely on the Tomahawk cruise missile, a subsonic weapon with a proven track record. The Tomahawk, a land-attack missile launched from naval ships and submarines, has been a crucial part of the U.S. military arsenal for over three decades, seeing action in numerous conflicts across the globe.
First developed in the 1970s during the Cold War and entering service in 1983, the Tomahawk is approximately 5.6 meters long (without the booster) and capable of hitting targets up to 1,600 kilometers away. Its subsonic speed of around 880 kilometers per hour, combined with its ability to fly at a very low altitude (30-35 meters), makes it difficult for enemy radar to detect. It can carry a 450-kilogram conventional warhead.
The Tomahawk’s accuracy is ensured by its advanced navigation systems, including GPS, an inertial navigation system, and Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM), which uses pre-loaded maps to guide the missile to its target. The system can even alter it’s mission mid-flight or abort if necessary.
The missile saw it’s first action during Operation Desert Storm when it was one of the first weapon’s launched on Baghdad. It has since been used extensively in Iraq, Syria, Libya, the Gulf, Yemen, against terrorist targets in Sudan and Afghanistan, and most recently against Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and even (unconfirmed) to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. Its consistent success in hitting designated targets has solidified its position as a reliable and versatile weapon.
According to analysts, the Tomahawk’s continued relevance lies in its combination of accuracy, range, stealth, and adaptability. While hypersonic weapons offer speed advantages, the Tomahawk provides a cost-effective and battle-tested solution for a wide range of strategic and tactical missions. Each Tomahawk missile costs approximately $2 million. The United States deploys these missiles from over 140 ships and submarines.
Despite the allure of newer, faster technologies, the U.S. military’s continued reliance on the Tomahawk underscores the importance of proven capabilities and adaptability in modern warfare.
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