Weapons of War: U.S. Cruise Missiles America's ability to strike targets deep in enemy territory without risk to piloted aircraft is primarily due to the cruise missile. Cruise missiles fly under their own power, allowing pilots to release them far from anti-aircraft sites. The development of Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation provides precision-strike, all-weather capability.
SLAM-ER	Tomahawk	AGM-86C ALCM	AGM-154 JSOW
Primary role
Air-launched, precision strike missile	Long-range, land-attack cruise missile	Long-range, air-launched cruise missile	Medium-range, air-launched, all-weather glide missile
Entered service
1999	1984	1986	1998
Length
14 feet 4 inches	18 feet 3 inches	20 feet 9 inches	13 feet 9 inches
Guidance
GPS and infrared seeker with video control and in-flight correction	GPS with digital terrain matching	GPS integrated with inertial navigation	GPS with inertial navigation and in-flight correction
Warhead
510-pound high explosive fragmentation	1,000-pound high explosive or bomblets	2,000 or 3,000-pound high explosive fragmentation	500 to 1,000 pound high-explosive or bomblets
SOURCES: Associated Press, Periscope; The Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet; Federation of American Scientists