A cruise missile can navigate by comparing the ground below to a digital map
Tomahawk cruise missiles utilize advanced terrain-matching technology to hug the Earth's curvature, allowing them to fly below radar detection at speeds of 550 mph with incredible precision.
The Tomahawk cruise missile navigates complex landscapes by using Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) to scan the ground below. By comparing real-time radar profiles against pre-loaded digital maps accurate to 10 meters, the missile can fly at altitudes as low as 50 feet. This low-altitude flight allows it to evade traditional radar by staying below the horizon line.
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