Cruise missile Nuclear weapons delivery

cruise missiles have shorter range icbms. u/rgm-109e tomahawk pictured (not nuclear capable anymore).

a cruise missile jet engine or rocket-propelled missile flies @ low altitude using automated guidance system (usually inertial navigation, supplemented either gps or mid-course updates friendly forces) make them harder detect or intercept. cruise missiles can carry nuclear warhead. have shorter range , smaller payloads ballistic missiles, warheads smaller , less powerful.

the agm-86 alcm air force s current nuclear-armed air-launched cruise missile. alcm carried on b-52 stratofortress can carry 20 missiles. cruise missiles can compared mirv warheads. bgm/ugm-109 tomahawk submarine-launched cruise missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads, nuclear warheads removed.

cruise missiles may launched mobile launchers on ground, , naval ships.

there no letter change in arsenal distinguish warheads of cruise missiles ballistic missiles.

cruise missiles, lower payload, have number of advantages on ballistic missiles purposes of delivering nuclear strikes:

launch of cruise missile difficult detect satellites , other long-range means, contributing surprise factor of attack.
that, coupled ability actively maneuver in flight, allows penetration of strategic anti-missile systems aimed @ intercepting ballistic missiles on calculated trajectory of flight.

partially reasons, nuclear-armed cruise missiles amongst least deployed of nuclear weapons, deployment restricted treaties such salt ii.