Editing Cruise missile (section)

==Deployment==
[[File:AGM-129A - 2006 0306 b52 2lg.jpg|thumb|right|[[AGM-129 ACM]] being secured on a [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress|B-52H bomber]]]]
The most common mission for cruise missiles is to attack relatively high-value targets such as ships, command bunkers, bridges and dams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/tomahawk/|title=Raytheon: Tomahawk Cruise Missile|website=www.raytheon.com|access-date=2016-09-19}}</ref> Modern guidance systems permit accurate attacks.

{{As of|2001}}, the BGM-109 [[Tomahawk (missile family)|Tomahawk missile]] model has become a significant part of the United States naval arsenal. It gives ships and submarines a somewhat accurate, long-range, conventional land attack weapon. Each costs about US$1.99 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=FY 2017 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System - Tactical Tomahawk Cruise Missile |url=https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/defbudget/FY2017/FY2017_Weapons.pdf#page=63 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424113923/http://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/fy2017/FY2017_Weapons.pdf |archive-date=2016-04-24 |url-status=live |website=comptroller.defense.gov}}</ref> Both the Tomahawk and the AGM-86 were used extensively during [[Gulf War|Operation Desert Storm]]. On 7 April 2017, during the [[Timeline of the Syrian Civil War (January–April 2017)#April 2017|Syrian Civil War]], U.S. warships fired more than 50 cruise missiles into a Syrian airbase in retaliation for a Syrian chemical weapons attack against a rebel stronghold.<ref>{{cite web |title=US missiles blast Syria; Trump demands 'end the slaughter' |url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-syria-ap-top-news-international-news-politics-de1b6e80a0cf4d84bca38835e9bb3310 |website=AP News|date=20 April 2021 }}</ref>

The [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) deploys an air-launched cruise missile, the [[AGM-86 ALCM]]. The [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress]] is the exclusive delivery vehicle for the AGM-86 and [[AGM-129 ACM]]. Both missile types are configurable for either conventional or nuclear warheads.

The USAF adopted the AGM-86 for its bomber fleet while AGM-109 was adapted to launch from trucks and ships and adopted by the USAF and Navy. The truck-launched versions, and also the Pershing II and SS-20 Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles, were later destroyed under the bilateral INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces) treaty with the USSR.

The British [[Royal Navy]] (RN) also operates cruise missiles, specifically the U.S.-made Tomahawk, used by the RN's nuclear submarine fleet. UK conventional warhead versions were first fired in combat by the RN in 1999, during the [[Kosovo War]] (the United States fired cruise missiles in 1991). The [[Royal Air Force]] uses the [[Storm Shadow]] cruise missile on its [[Eurofighter Typhoon|Typhoon]] and previously its [[Tornado GR4]] aircraft. It is also used by France, where it is known as SCALP EG, and carried by the [[Armée de l'Air]]'s [[Mirage 2000]] and [[Rafale]] aircraft.

[[File:BRAHMOS Launcher.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Indian Army]]'s BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles mounted on Mobile Autonomous Launchers (MAL)]]

India and Russia have jointly developed the supersonic cruise missile [[BrahMos]]. There are three versions of the Brahmos: ship/land-launched, air-launched, and sub-launched. The ship/land-launched version was operational as of late 2007. The Brahmos have the capability to attack targets on land. Russia also continues to operate other cruise missiles: the [[SS-N-12 Sandbox]], [[SS-N-19 Shipwreck]], [[SS-N-22 Sunburn]] and [[Kh-35|SS-N-25 Switchblade]]. Germany and Spain operate the [[KEPD 350|Taurus missile]] while Pakistan has made the [[Babur missile]]<ref name="CSIS Missile Threat3"/> Both the [[People's Republic of China]] and the [[Republic of China]] ([[Taiwan]]) have designed several cruise missile variants, such as the well-known [[C-802]], some of which are capable of carrying biological, chemical, nuclear, and conventional warheads.

===Nuclear warhead versions===

====China====
{{see also|China and weapons of mass destruction}}
China has the [[CJ-10 (missile)|CJ-10]] land attack cruise missile which is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bommakanti|first=Kartik|date=December 4, 2020|title=China's Cruise Missile Capabilities: Implications for the Indian Army and Air Force|url=https://www.orfonline.org/research/chinas-cruise-missile-capabilities/?amp#|url-status=live|access-date=December 18, 2021|website=[[Observer Research Foundation]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204151239/https://www.orfonline.org/research/chinas-cruise-missile-capabilities/?amp |archive-date=4 December 2020 }}</ref> Additionally, China appears to have tested a hypersonic cruise missile in August 2021, a claim it denies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-58953352|title=China Denies Testing Nuclear-Capable Hypersonic Cruise Missile|work=BBC News |date=18 October 2021 |access-date=Oct 18, 2021}}</ref>

====France====
{{see also|France and weapons of mass destruction}}
The French [[Force de Frappe]] nuclear forces include both land and sea-based bombers with [[Air-Sol Moyenne Portée]] (ASMP) high-speed medium-range nuclear cruise missiles. Two models are in use, ASMP and a newer ASMP-Amelioré (ASMP-A), which was developed in 1999. An estimated 40 to 50 were produced.<ref>Missile Defense Project, "Air-Sol Moyenne Portée (ASMP/ ASMP-A)", ''Missile Threat'', Center for Strategic and International Studies, November 30, 2016, last modified June 15, 2018, https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/asmp/ .</ref><ref>James O’Halloran, IHS Jane's Weapons: Strategic 2015-2016, 2015, (United Kingdom: IHS), 134-135.</ref>

====India====
{{see also|India and weapons of mass destruction}}
India in 2017 successfully flight-tested its indigenous [[Nirbhay]] ('Fearless') land-attack cruise missile, which can deliver nuclear warheads to a strike range of 1,000&nbsp;km.<ref name="Nirbhay, ToI, 2017" >{{cite news |title=India successfully tests its first nuclear-capable cruise missile |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-successfully-tests-its-first-nuclear-capable-cruise-missile/articleshow/61550465.cms |newspaper=The Times of India |date=7 November 2017}}</ref> Nirbhay had been flight-tested successfully.<ref name="Nirbhay, ToI, 2017" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Nuclear-capable Nirbhay cruise missile's test fails for the fourth time |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/nuclear-capable-nirbhay-cruise-missiles-test-fails-for-the-fourth-time/articleshow/56105444.cms |newspaper=The Times of India |date=21 December 2016 |access-date=21 December 2016}}</ref>

====Israel====
{{see also|Israel and weapons of mass destruction}}
The [[Israel Defense Forces]] reportedly deploy the medium-range air-launched [[Popeye (missile)|Popeye Turbo ALCM]] and the [[Popeye (missile)|Popeye Turbo SLCM]] medium-long range cruise missile with nuclear warheads on [[Dolphin class submarine]]s.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Udaya Chandar |first=Y |title=The Modern Weaponry of the World's Armed Forces |publisher=Notion Press |year=2017 |isbn=9781946983794}}</ref>

====Pakistan====
{{see also|Pakistan and weapons of mass destruction}}
Pakistan currently has four cruise missile systems: the [[Air-launched cruise missile|air-launched]] [[Hatf-VIII (Ra'ad)|Ra'ad-I]] and its enhanced version [[Ra'ad-II]]; the ground and [[Submarine-launched cruise missile|submarine launched]] [[Babur (cruise missile)|Babur]];<ref name="CSIS Missile Threat3">{{cite web|url=https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/hatf-7/|title=Hatf 7 "Babur" – Missile Threat|website=CSIS.org|access-date=26 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://thediplomat.com/2017/01/south-asian-strategic-stability-and-pakistans-babur-3-submarine-launched-cruise-missile/|title=South Asian Strategic Stability and Pakistan's Babur-3 Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile|first1=Ankit |last1=Panda |first2=Prashanth |last2=Parameswaran|work=The Diplomat|access-date=2017-12-01|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38563330|title=Pakistan announces cruise missile success|date=2017|work=BBC News|access-date=2017-12-01|language=en-GB}}</ref> ship-launched [[Harbah]] missile<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/01/pakistan-tests-an-indigenously-developed-anti-ship-cruise-missile/|title=Pakistan Tests An Indigenously Developed Anti-Ship Cruise Missile|first=Ankit |last=Panda|work=The Diplomat|access-date=2018-01-13|language=en-US}}</ref> and surface launched [[YJ-62|Zarb missile]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1251049|title=Pakistan Navy inducts coastal anti-ship 'Zarb' missile after successful test|last=Haider|first=Mateen|date=9 April 2016|work=DAWN.COM|access-date=2018-01-17|language=en-US}}</ref> Both, [[Hatf-VIII (Ra'ad)|Ra'ad]] and [[Babur (cruise missile)|Babur]], can carry nuclear warheads between 10 and 25 kt, and deliver them to targets at a range of up to {{convert|300|km|abbr=on}} and {{convert|450|km|abbr=on}} respectively.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/nuclear-capable-nirbhay-cruise-missiles-test-fails-for-the-fourth-time/articleshow/56105444.cms|title=Nirbhay: Nuclear-capable Nirbhay cruise missile's test fails for the fourth time &#124; India News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=21 December 2016 }}</ref> Babur has been in service with the [[Pakistan Army]] since 2010, and [[Pakistan Navy]] since 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipcs.org/article/india/pakistans-babur-and-raad-cruise-missiles-strategic-implications-for-india-3681.html|title=Pakistan's Babur and Ra'ad Cruise Missiles: Strategic Implications for India|last1=Mason|first1=Shane|website=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies|access-date=20 January 2016}}</ref>

====Russia====
{{see also|Russia and weapons of mass destruction}}
[[File:3M-54E1.jpg|thumb|Export variant of the [[3M-54 Kalibr|Kalibr]] missile]]
Russia has [[Raduga Kh-55|Kh-55SM]] cruise missiles, with a range similar to the United States' [[AGM-129 ACM|AGM-129]] range of 3000&nbsp;km, but are able to carry a more powerful warhead of 200&nbsp;kt. They are equipped with a [[TERCOM]] system which allows them to cruise at an altitude lower than 110 meters at subsonic speeds while obtaining a [[Circular error probable|CEP]] accuracy of 15 meters with an [[inertial navigation system]]. They are air-launched from either [[Tupolev Tu-95]]s, [[Tupolev Tu-22M]]s, or [[Tupolev Tu-160]]s, each able to carry 16 for the Tu-95, 12 for the Tu-160, and 4 for the Tu-22M. A [[Stealth technology|stealth]] version of the missile, the Kh-101 is in development. It has similar qualities as the Kh-55, except that its range has been extended to 5,000&nbsp;km, is equipped with a 1,000&nbsp;kg conventional warhead, and has stealth features which reduce its probability of intercept.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kh-101 – Russian and Soviet Nuclear Forces |url=https://fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/bomber/kh-101.htm |publisher=Fas.org |access-date=13 February 2012}}</ref>

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the most recent cruise missile developed was the [[3M-54 Kalibr|Kalibr missile]] which entered production in the early 1990s and was officially inducted into the Russian arsenal in 1994. However, it only saw its combat debut on 7 October 2015, in [[Syria]] as a part of the [[Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War|Russian military campaign in Syria]]. The missile has been used 14 more times in combat operations in Syria since its debut.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Soviet Union was attempting to develop cruise missiles. In this short time frame, the Soviet Union was working on nearly ten different types of cruise missiles. However, due to resources, most of the initial types of cruise missiles developed by the Soviet Union were Sea-Launched Cruise Missiles or Submarine-Launched Cruise Missiles ([[Submarine-launched cruise missile|SLCMs]]). The [[KSShch|SS-N-1]] cruise missile was developed to have different configurations to be fired from a submarine or a ship. However, as time progressed, the Soviet Union began to work on air-launched cruise missiles as well ([[Air-launched cruise missile|ALCM]]). These ACLM missiles were typically delivered via bombers designated as "Blinders" or "Backfire". The missiles in this configuration were called the AS-1, and AS-2 with eventual new variants with more development time. The main purpose of Soviet-based cruise missiles was to have defense and offensive mechanisms against enemy ships; in other words, most of the Soviet cruise missiles were anti-ship missiles. In the 1980s the Soviet Union had developed an arsenal of cruise missiles nearing 600 platforms which consisted of land, sea, and air delivery systems.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Arkin|first=William|date=May 1983|title=Soviet Cruise Missile Programs|journal=Arms Control Today|volume=13|issue=4|pages=3–4|jstor=23623103}}</ref>

====United States====
{{see also|United States and weapons of mass destruction}}
[[File:Agm-129 acm.jpg|thumb|right|An [[AGM-129 ACM]] of the [[United States Air Force]]]]
The United States has deployed nine nuclear cruise missiles at one time or another.
*[[MGM-1 Matador]] ground-launched missile, out of service
*[[MGM-13 Mace]] ground-launched missile, out of service
*[[SSM-N-8 Regulus]] submarine-launched missile, out of service
*[[SM-62 Snark]] ground-launched missile, out of service
*[[AGM-28 Hound Dog]] air-launched missile, out of service
*[[BGM-109G Ground Launched Cruise Missile]], out of service
*[[AGM-129 ACM]] air-launched missile, out of service<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tinker.af.mil/News/story/id/123299303/ |title=Cruise missile career comes to a close |publisher=U.S. Air Force, Tinker Air Force Base public affairs |date=24 April 2012 |access-date=27 December 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220061518/http://www.tinker.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123299303 |archive-date=20 December 2013}}</ref>
*[[AGM-86 ALCM]] air-launched cruise missile, 350 to 550 missiles and [[W80 (nuclear warhead)|W80]] warheads still in service
*[[Tomahawk (missile family)|BGM-109 Tomahawk]] cruise missile in nuclear submarine-, surface ship-, and ground-launched models, nuclear models out of service but warheads kept in reserve.

===Efficiency in modern warfare===
Currently, cruise missiles are among the most expensive of single-use weapons, up to several million dollars apiece. One consequence of this is that its users face difficult choices in [[targeting (warfare)|target allocation]], to avoid expending the missiles on targets of low value. For instance, during [[Operation Enduring Freedom|the 2001 strikes on Afghanistan]] the United States attacked targets of very low monetary value with cruise missiles, which led many to question the efficiency of the weapon. However, proponents of the cruise missile counter that the weapon can not be blamed for poor target selection, and the same argument applies to other types of [[unmanned aerial vehicle|UAV]]s: they are cheaper than human pilots when total training and infrastructure costs are taken into account, not to mention the risk of loss of personnel. As demonstrated in [[Operation Odyssey Dawn|Libya in 2011]] and prior conflicts, cruise missiles are much more difficult to detect and intercept than other aerial assets (reduced radar cross-section, infrared and visual signature due to smaller size), suiting them to attacks against static air defense systems.