Land-attack missile

A land-attack missile (LAM) is a naval <a href="/facts/Surface-to-surface_missile/T6C0a3q7">surface-to-surface missile</a> that is capable of effectively attacking targets ashore, unlike specialized <a href="/facts/Anti-ship_missile/f6MbP8Ab">anti-ship missiles</a>, 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 <a href="/facts/Turbojet/tr3vYndL">turbojet</a> or <a href="/facts/Turbofan/x8XWVw19">turbofan</a> powered <a href="/facts/Cruise_missile/Frego9PF">cruise missiles</a>. To prevent early detection and counter-measures, they usually fly near the ground at very low altitude, employing terrain-following techniques, either with <a href="/facts/Terrain-following_radar/xDMKDroW">terrain-following radar</a> or with precise navigation system, like <a href="/facts/Global_Positioning_System/DKVLnzF3">GPS</a>, combined with a stored map of obstacles and ground elevation data (<a href="/facts/TERCOM/qR1n6MeN">TERCOM</a>).
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 <a href="/facts/Active_radar_homing/SeUhDBuX">active radar homing</a>, <a href="/facts/Passive_radar/F5qAPPXr">passive radar</a> or <a href="/facts/Electronic_warfare_support_measures/ClAT0G7x">electronic warfare support measures</a>, <a href="/facts/Infrared_homing/shTBbEmn">infrared homing</a> or <a href="/facts/Optical_guidance/NSna0Dtk">optical guidance</a>, or the (fixed) target was predesignated with as final way-point.
Some missiles allow <a href="/facts/Mid-course_update/pd3yHXkf">mid-course updates</a> after launch and some may even send information back to the launch platform or other units.

Land-attack missile open-in-new

Land-attack missile