How Far Can A Cruise Missile Fly?

Supersonic cruise missiles typically have a range of a few hundred miles, but some intercontinental versions can travel several thousand miles. These missiles typically have a launch weight of about 1,500 kilograms and can carry either a conventional or nuclear warhead. Cruise missiles have an 8.5-foot (2.61-meter) wingspan, are powered by turbofan engines, and can fly 500 to 1,000 miles (805 to 1,610 km) depending on the configuration.

The Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile in service with the surface ships and submarines of the US and the UK’s Royal Navy. They are capable of traveling at high subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic speeds. The Tomahawk was the first small, low-flying cruise missile to achieve precision targeting while remaining undetected by enemy radar. It proved an instrumental part of the U.S. military.

Cruise missiles have an 8.5-foot (2.61-meter) wingspan, are powered by turbofan engines, and can fly 500 to 1,000 miles (805 to 1,610 km) depending on the configuration. They can fly at 4,000 feet or 14 feet, providing a tactical advantage to have a low flight path for a cruise missile strike.

The Tomahawk cruise missile is a precision weapon that launches from ships, submarines, and ground launchers and can strike targets precisely from 1,000 miles. It can fly at 4000 feet or 14 feet, providing sufficient lift at high speeds. Cruise missile wings only need to provide sufficient lift at high speeds and are launched via rocket boosters, so they don’t even need any.

In the terminal phase, the Tomahawk could fly to high altitude, up to 450 meters, or low altitude trajectories, including a sea-skimming route or a pop-up high-angle dive.