Cruise missile

German V-1s were the world's first cruise missiles.

some modern cruise missiles.

The term cruise missile refers to unmanned aerial weapons that use air-breathing engines and wings to fly to their targets. The first cruise missiles were the the V-1 missiles Germany used in late World War 2.

Cruise missile guidance systems have gone through several generations of improvement.

After World War 2, but prior to the introduction of global positioning system satellites, there were generations of cruise missiles that relied on a combination of inertial navigation and terrain recognition navigation. Cameras in the missile's nose took pictures, and tried to match those against previously recorded waypoints.

Cruise missiles that primarily rely on satellite navigation may have backup systems, in case enemies broadcast signals intended to mask satellites, near high-value targets.

Unlike ballistic missiles most cruise missiles travel slower than the speed of sound. Cruise missiles often fly at a very low altitude, to try to fly under their enemies radar.