Tomahawk Cruise Missile: Range, Versions and How It Works
Tomahawk cruise missile explained: range, guidance, Block IV and Block V versions, launch ships and submarines, and production numbers.
Short answer: The Tomahawk cruise missile is the U.S. Navy’s main long-range land-attack weapon. It is a subsonic, jet-powered missile that flies at very low altitude over a planned route and can strike targets about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away. The current Block IV version can be redirected in flight, and the newer Block V adds upgraded navigation and communications, with an anti-ship version on the way. Tomahawks are launched from Navy surface ships and submarines, and the UK Royal Navy fires them from its submarines.
Last updated: October 28, 2026
- Type: all-weather, long-range, subsonic cruise missile
- Range: 900 nautical miles (1,000 statute miles, 1,600 km)
- Warhead: 1,000-pound class unitary warhead (Block IV)
- Launched from: U.S. Navy ships and submarines; UK Royal Navy submarines
- First combat use: Operation Desert Storm, 1991
- Latest version: Block V, first delivered to the Navy in March 2021
What the Tomahawk is
The Navy’s Tomahawk fact file describes the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile as “an all-weather, long range, subsonic cruise missile used for deep land attack warfare.” Its primary job is “striking high value or heavily defended land targets.”
Unlike a ballistic missile, which arcs high above the atmosphere, a cruise missile flies like a small, uncrewed jet aircraft for its whole flight. The Navy says Tomahawks fly “at extremely low altitudes at high subsonic speeds” and are “piloted over an evasive route by several mission tailored guidance systems.” For more on the two missile families, see our guide to ballistic missiles vs cruise missiles.
How it flies and finds its target
After launch, a solid-fuel booster gets the Tomahawk moving, and a small Williams International turbofan engine then takes over for the cruise. The Navy lists four guidance methods for the Block IV and Block V:
- INS (inertial navigation system): tracks the missile’s motion from launch.
- TERCOM (terrain contour matching): compares the ground below with stored elevation maps.
- DSMAC (digital scene matching area correlation): compares camera images with stored pictures of the target area.
- GPS: satellite positioning.
Using several methods together means the missile is not dependent on any single one.
Block IV and Block V
Block IV (Tactical Tomahawk). The Navy says the Block IV entered the fleet in 2004. It can be reprogrammed in flight through two-way satellite communications to strike any of 15 pre-programmed alternate targets or any new GPS coordinates. It can also loiter over a target area and use its on-board camera to send battle damage information back to commanders.
Block V. The Navy received its first Block V Tomahawk from Raytheon in March 2021. The first Block V missiles are existing Block IVs that have been recertified and modernized. The Navy says this mid-life recertification replaces life-limited parts to give each missile 15 more years of service, and that all Block IV missiles will go through it. Block V adds a navigation and communications upgrade.
Two further variants are planned:
- Block Va, Maritime Strike Tomahawk: adds a seeker kit so the missile can hit ships.
- Block Vb: replaces the current warhead with the Joint Multiple Effects Warhead System.
Specs at a glance
Figures come from the Navy fact file unless noted.
| Feature | Tomahawk Block IV/V (TLAM-E) |
|---|---|
| Primary function | Long-range subsonic land-attack cruise missile |
| Contractor | Raytheon (RTX), Tucson, Arizona |
| Engine | Williams International F415-400 turbofan, plus solid-fuel booster |
| Range | 900 nautical miles (1,000 statute miles, 1,600 km) |
| Guidance | INS, TERCOM, DSMAC and GPS |
| Warhead | 1,000-pound class unitary warhead (Block IV) |
| In service | Block IV since 2004; Block V since 2021 |
| Launch platforms | U.S. Navy surface ships and submarines; UK Royal Navy submarines |
| FY2027 request | $2.01 billion for 58 missiles (discretionary) plus $3.87 billion for 727 (proposed mandatory) (CRS) |
Combat history and the UK
The Navy says the Tomahawk’s first operational use was in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, and that it has since been used in several other conflicts. It has been the opening weapon of many U.S. strike campaigns because ships and submarines can launch it from far offshore without risking aircrews.
The United Kingdom is the first foreign buyer. The Navy says the two governments signed a sales agreement for 65 missiles in 1995, and a 2003 agreement approved 65 Block IV missiles launched from submarine torpedo tubes. The UK received its first Block IV deliveries in January 2008.
Earlier Tomahawks included a nuclear version, the TLAM-N, which carried the W80 warhead and has been retired. The Navy is now developing a new nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile, covered in our report on SLCM-N prototype awards.
How many Tomahawks the U.S. is buying
According to the Congressional Research Service’s review of the fiscal 2027 budget, the Department of Defense requested $2.01 billion for 58 Tactical Tomahawk missiles in regular discretionary funding and proposed a further $3.87 billion for 727 missiles in mandatory funding. That proposed mandatory buy is many times larger than the discretionary request.
Russia’s closest counterpart is the Kalibr family, explained in our Kalibr cruise missile guide. For the ships that carry Tomahawks, see our guide to types of warships.
Peter’s World’s view
The Tomahawk has lasted more than three decades because its design fits a recurring need: a long-range strike that does not put pilots at risk. The Navy’s own records show steady improvement rather than replacement, from in-flight retargeting in Block IV to anti-ship and new warhead options in Block V. The fiscal 2027 request suggests stockpile size, not technology, is now the main concern, after years of heavy use in strikes.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Tomahawk missile?
It is a U.S. Navy long-range, subsonic cruise missile used to strike land targets, launched from ships and submarines.
How far can a Tomahawk missile fly?
The Navy lists a range of 900 nautical miles, or about 1,000 statute miles (1,600 km), for the Block IV and Block V.
How fast is a Tomahawk missile?
The Navy describes it as flying at “high subsonic speeds,” meaning just below the speed of sound. It does not publish an exact figure.
What is the difference between Tomahawk Block IV and Block V?
Block IV added in-flight retargeting and loitering. Block V adds upgraded navigation and communications, with planned anti-ship (Block Va) and new-warhead (Block Vb) versions.
Who makes the Tomahawk?
Raytheon, part of RTX, builds the Tomahawk in Tucson, Arizona.
Which countries use the Tomahawk?
The U.S. Navy and the UK Royal Navy. The UK was the first foreign buyer, starting with a 1995 agreement.
This article was written by Peter with AI assistance and checked against the sources linked. See our AI use disclosure.
Sources
- U.S. Navy: Tomahawk cruise missile fact file
- Congressional Research Service: FY2027 Defense Budget: Funding for Selected Weapon Systems (R49023)
