Submarine-launched Cruise Missile

A submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM) is a cruise missile that is launched from a submarine (especially a SSG or SSGN). Current versions are typically standoff weapons which are used to attack predetermined land targets with conventional or nuclear payloads.

Four US Navy ballistic missile submarines were converted to be able to salvo launch up to 144 Tomahawk cruise missiles from their modified vertical launch SLBM tubes as opposed to launching cruise missiles from torpedo tubes as is done from attack submarines. The advantage that the submarines have over guided missile destroyers and cruisers is the ability to remain undetected and launch while submerged.

The previous US Navy cruise missile submarines (4 SSG and 1 SSGN) deployed with the Regulus missile from 1958 until retired in 1964 with the arrival of the Polaris missile submarines in the Pacific.

Specific types of SLCMs include:

• BrahMos (India/Russia)
• P-700 Granit (Russia)
• P-500 Bazalt (Russia)
• Tomahawk missile (U.S.A)
• BrahMos II Hypersonic Missile (India/Russia)
• Popeye Turbo SLCM (believed to be an extended range naval version of the Israeli made air launched Popeye) (Israel)