The United States carried out a major airstrike against Iran on Sunday, targeting three of its nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The strike was carried out using B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk cruise missiles, according to reports from Fox News.

Fox News host Sean Hannity said he spoke directly with US President Donald Trump after the attack. He confirmed that six bunker-busting bombs were dropped on Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility by B-2 bombers, and 30 Tomahawk missiles were launched from US submarines to hit the other sites.

The US operation marks a serious escalation in tensions between Iran and the US, with the attacks targeting Iran’s underground nuclear infrastructure.

What is a Tomahawk missile?

A Tomahawk missile is a long-range, subsonic cruise missile mainly used by the US Navy and UK Royal Navy. These missiles are specially designed to strike high-value land and sea targets from a long distance with very high accuracy.

Tomahawks can fly between 1,600 and 2,500 km, and they are launched from either ships or submarines. The missile uses advanced technology to guide itself through the air and hit the target, including:

  • GPS (Global Positioning System)
  • INS (Inertial Navigation System)
  • TERCOM (Terrain Contour Matching)
  • DSMAC (Digital Scene-Matching Area Correlation)

This mix of systems helps the missile fly at low altitudes, avoid radar detection, and reach its target with great precision.

These missiles have been used in many previous military operations, including:

  • Gulf War (1991)
  • Kosovo conflict
  • Iraq War (2003)
  • Syria (2017 and 2018)

Tomahawks are valued for allowing countries to hit faraway targets without risking pilot lives.

How do Tomahawk missiles work?

Tomahawks are launched in different ways:

  1. Launch: From ships or submarines using Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) or torpedo tubes. A solid booster pushes the missile out, and then a small turbofan engine takes over.
  2. Flight: The missile flies on its own, guided by GPS and other systems. It can fly low to the ground, hiding from enemy radar.
  3. In-flight changes: The newer Block IV and V missiles can change targets in the air using satellite communication. They can even circle around while waiting for a final attack order.
  4. Final strike: As it nears the target, the missile uses its most accurate system—DSMAC—to lock onto the exact spot. It then hits with a 450 kg explosive warhead.
  5. Targets: Tomahawks are used to destroy airfields, bunkers, radars, or even naval ships (with the latest maritime versions).

The US Navy, as of January 2024, has around 3,757 modern Tomahawk missiles. In total, the US has about 4,000 Tomahawks in its military stockpile.

This large inventory gives the US the ability to launch strong attacks anywhere in the world, as shown in the recent strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

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