Land-attack missile explained

A land-attack missile (LAM) is a naval surface-to-surface missile that is capable of effectively attacking targets ashore, unlike specialized anti-ship missiles, which are optimized for striking other ships. Some dual-role missiles are suitable for both missions.

Like long-range anti-ship missiles, land-attack missiles are usually turbojet or turbofan powered cruise missiles. To prevent early detection and counter-measures, they usually fly near the ground at very low altitude, employing terrain-following techniques, either with terrain-following radar or with precise navigation system, like GPS, combined with a stored map of obstacles and ground elevation data (TERCOM).

Land-attack missiles are usually programmed before launch to follow a set of way-points up to the target. Terminal guidance can be done with active radar homing, passive radar or electronic warfare support measures, infrared homing or optical guidance, or the (fixed) target was predesignated with as final way-point.

Some missiles allow mid-course updates after launch and some may even send information back to the launch platform or other units.

List of missiles

Specific types of LAMs (current, past and under development)!Name!Origin!Maximum Range
3M22 Zircon Russia
3M-51 Alfa Russia
3M-54 Kalibr Russia
United States[1]
BrahMos India / Russia (Surface-launched version)
BrahMos-II India / Russia
Nirbhay India
China
China
Hermes (missile) Russia
Hongniao China
Hyunmoo-3 South Korea (Hyunmoo-3C)
Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept United States>[2] [3]
Hsiung Feng IIE Taiwan>[4]
Hsiung Feng III Taiwan
Otomat Mk/2E Italy
Kh-59 Russia
Joint Strike Missile Norway/ United States
MdCN France
P-800 Oniks Russia
RBS15 Sweden>
RK-55 / S-10 Russia
Wan Chien Taiwan[5]
YJ-12 China
YJ-18 China
YJ-62 China
Yun Feng Taiwan

Notes and References

  1. Web site: U.S. Marines Experimenting with Tomahawk for Land-Attack and Anti-Ship Missions. 17 June 2021.
  2. Web site: US tested hypersonic missile in mid-March but kept it quiet to avoid escalating tensions with Russia . 5 April 2022 .
  3. https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2022-07-18
  4. Web site: Taiwan: New Hsiung Feng IIIE long-range strike missile | April 2018 Global Defense Security army news industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2018 | Archive News year.
  5. Web site: WW3 fears growing as 'Ten Thousand Swords' missile for strike on China 'PRIMED and READY'. 7 August 2018.