What is a Tomahawk missile, how much do the cruise missiles cost and how many does the UK have?

WITH a US-led coalition embarking on air strikes in Syria, Tomahawk missiles are back in the news.

At least one guided missile warship contributed to the bombings against the regime of Bashar al-Assad using the high-tech weapons – here’s what you need to know about them…

The Tomahawk cruise missile is ideally suited for critical long-range, precision-strike missions against high-value targets

What are Tomahawk cruise missiles?

Tomahawks are a key weapon in the US military and are highly accurate.

The intermediate-range cruise missiles have a range of about 800 miles to 1500 miles and are equipped with a 1000-pound conventional warhead.

They are fired from sea and travel relatively low to the ground to avoid radar detection.

Guided by an advanced navigation system, they can be steered to their targets from afar.  

The missiles were first used with great effect against Iraqi despot Saddam Hussein in the 1990 Operation Desert Storm mission. 

They have been in operation ever since.

Britain, a trusted ally of the US, has been allowed to buy Tomahawks.

How much do they cost?

Each Tomahawk missile cost about $832,000 (£667,000).

US officials say 59 missiles were fired from the USS Porter and USS Ross warships which were positioned in the Mediterranean Sea.

This would have cost the American taxpayer at least $49,088,000 (£39,353,000).

How many Tomahawks does the UK have?

The Royal Navy has Tomahawk missiles on board all its Trafalgar and Astute class submarines.

Britain is the only nation other than the United States currently in possession of Tomahawks and last purchased 65 in 2014 for around £98 million.

In total the UK has taken delivery of 214 missiles since 1995 but several have been used during the Afghan, Iraq and Kosovo wars and some other operations.

Brit subs loaded with Tomahawk missiles have reportedly been moved within striking distance of Syria this week.