The development of stand-off air-launched cruise missiles has increased lethality for their operators and proved their worth in combat missions. Tim Fish reports.
Air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) are extremely important weapons that enable an air force’s ability to manoeuvre. This is because they are standoff missiles that allow an air force to operate outside the range of enemy air defences. Bombers can deploy ALCMs to attack targets and conduct suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD) missions from distance without having to get too close to anti-air systems risking the platforms and crew.
