Trump deploys Tomahawk missiles to target Iran nuclear sites: How effective are they?

The Tomahawk missiles are subsonic cruise missiles with an intermediate range.

In a major escalation, US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that it has joined Israel’s war against Iran and attacked Tehran’s nuclear sites.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the US forces conducted a “very successful attack” against on three nuclear sites- Natanz, Isfahan and the crown jewel of Tehran's nuclear program Fordow, which is now ‘gone’.

The US forces dropped six bunker-buster bombs on Fordow, while 30 Tomahawk missiles were fired against other nuclear sites.

Let’s dive into what are Tomahawk missiles and why Trump’s military decided to employ these assets against its targets in Iran.

The Tomahawk missiles are subsonic cruise missiles with an intermediate range. The missiles can be launched from navy ships and submarines, providing a deep strike capability. The missiles can carry both conventional and nuclear payloads.

When was it first commissioned?

The development of the missiles began in 1972 by the US navy and are in services since 1983. The missiles have a range of 1,250 km to 2,500 km and can carry a payload of around 450 kg. The missiles have a speed of up to 885 km per hour and an accuracy of up to 5 meters.

Different versions

The missiles have undergone a lot of changes over the years. The latest version of the missile is the Block V missile, which is an updated version of its Block IV Tactical Tomahawk missiles.

The Block IV version has the capability to switch targets while in flight in an instant and can loiter in the air for hours.

The US Navy began modernizing it in 2020, resulting in the production of Tomahawk Block V series.

The Block V variants can strike moving targets in the sea and has updated navigation and communications features. It can also destroy more diverse land targets.

When was it first used?

The missiles were first deployed during Gulf War in 1991 in the Operation Desert Storm against Iraqi targets. It was again used by the US forces during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.