Combat Countdown (2012) s01e12 Episode Script
Surgical Strikers
narrator: on the modern battlefield, one factor trumps all others -- precision.
a single strike from a precision weapon can have a decisive effect on the course of any battle.
the ability to deploy precision-strike weapons has completely changed the nature of war.
[ gunfire .]
it's the whole idea, so you have to be able to hit your target.
narrator: we're counting down the top 10 precision weapons in every theater of war.
from the mighty f-16 to the pinpoint-accurate javelin and the ultramodern holland-class patrol vessel to find out which one delivers the most accurate surgical strike.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS English Sbutitles Collected and Modified By: precision has always been a goal of weapon designers.
but only now in the era of high-tech warfare have weapon systems truly achieved revolutionary accuracy.
the whole nature of warfare is now changing because you expect precision to be there at every level.
narrator: advanced communications and targeting systems have made the impossible possible.
the amount of error that's associated with our smart weapons are such that we can truly say that we have pinpoint accuracy.
narrator: though many weapon systems aspire towards precision, which ones can really deliver a truly surgical strike? with the help of military experts, we're counting down some of the most accurate weapon systems on the planet.
each machine will be assessed on the balance of to determine our definitive top 10.
at number 10, a devastatingly precise fighter plane the f-16 fighting falcon.
origin -- u.
s.
a.
cost -- $18.
8 million.
weight -- 24 tons.
length -- 49 feet.
in service with 25 air forces worldwide, the iconic f-16 is one of the world's most effective fighter jets.
a groundbreaking design and ultraprecise handling make it perfect for launching surgical strikes.
man: the f-16 is very maneuverable.
it's fast.
basically anything you can ask it to do, it can do, and it does it very well.
huston: it's a terrific airplane, one of the best fighters in the world.
narrator: at less than 50 feet long, the f-16 is small in size but it punches above its weight.
caddick-adams: around the aircraft are hard points, which means you can bolt on any array of air-to-ground, air-to-air missiles, which can take out targets with a great deal of precision.
narrator: today's f-16s are equipped with radar-guided sparrow and aim-120 missiles for air-to-air combat and jdam gps-enabled smart bombs for ultimate air-to-surface precision.
they are accurate to within 10 feet from 15 miles away.
man: the f-16's very precise.
if you had a small type of shack or an outhouse, you could hit it with a bomb.
narrator: everything on the f-16 has been done to optimize handling and enable precision flying.
a frameless bubble canopy provides 360-degree visibility.
a side-mounted electronic joystick gives a pilot ultrasensitive control of the aircraft.
with its pratt & whitney engine generating 29,000 pounds of thrust, an f-16 can reach a top speed of mach two and is capable of ascending at a rate of 50,000 feet per minute.
its aluminum alloy wings are strong enough to withstand nine times the force of gravity.
huston: when you have an airplane like that, you can out-turn anybody.
narrator: for ground-attack missions, the f-16's accuracy and firepower is renowned.
caddick-adams: morale of infantry on the ground soars when they know that f-16s are in the area to help them out.
narrator: the f-16 uses advanced uhf and vhf radio to allow pilots to communicate directly with ground troops to be talked on to target.
this close support role, working with troops who might be within a few hundred yards of the enemy, requires exceptional precision.
man: it is a huge responsibility and something that no fighter pilot takes lightly.
we practice, and we study, and we work very hard to be the best at what we're doing, and we are the best at what we're doing.
narrator: with over 4,500 built, the f-16 has been in service since the late 1970s.
it scores high for versatility with the range of precision weapon systems it can deploy.
a groundbreaking design, it has benefited from continuous evolutions in weapon-targeting systems.
though superseded by newer planes, the f-16 still flies near the top of its class.
overall, the f-16 scores well, earning it the number-10 position in our countdown.
at number 9, a brand-new, highly automated offshore patrol vessel the holland-class opv.
origin -- the netherlands.
cost -- $150 million.
weight -- 3,750 tons.
length -- 356 feet.
there's a new weapon against the pirates who prowl in international waters the holland class, an offshore patrol vessel, purpose-built for maritime security.
its ultraprecise weapon systems and tracking tools are designed to take out pirates and smugglers with minimum risk to innocent shipping.
they've been designed with a very real role in mind for the 21st century.
man: it's the best ship you can get this for task.
it has two interceptors, which are great, and a great helicopter, so we can get the bad guys at all times.
narrator: the holland class is armed with a highly accurate 76mm gun, which can discharge 120 rounds per minute and hit a target 18 miles away.
the key to the holland class precision tracking capabilities lies within its 45-foot-high, 52-ton integrated mast module.
it contains $38.
5 million worth of electronic sensors, including sea master early-warning radar, designed to simultaneously track hundreds of air and surface targets.
man: the pirates and the drug smugglers are operating small, fast boats.
they are really hard to detect, but we can see them.
narrator: when a suspect boat is identified, the holland class twin-diesel engines kick in, offering a maximum speed of 21 knots.
its elongated hull and broad platform adds stability and optimized maneuverability.
each holland class carries both a helicopter and two superfast interceptor boats.
man: they weigh like eight tons.
they can move 45 knots and get the bad guys and get them out.
narrator: if the bad guys fire back, the holland class can defend itself with lethal accuracy.
its automated weapon systems are remotely controlled from behind blastproof glass.
in addition to its main gun, it has a pair of .
50-caliber machine guns and a 30mm cannon that can fire over 200 rounds per minute.
if i was a pirate and if i see this ship coming towards me, i would run the hell out.
narrator: a brand-new ship, the holland class is yet to prove its operational value.
it is perfect for maritime security but versatile enough for multiple roles.
it's designed for maximum precision with a world-beating tracking system.
it is the latest evolution in seaborn security, the leader within its class.
overall, the holland class earns the number-9 position.
coming up, precision like you've never seen it before.
narrator: at number 8 in our countdown of the most surgical strikers, a lightweight gun capable of amazing accuracy the m4 assault rifle.
origin -- u.
s.
a.
cost -- $649.
weight -- 7 pounds.
length -- 33 inches.
this is the m4, the u.
s.
army's calling card.
it's an air-cooled, gas-operated shoulder-fire weapon.
it's got semi-automatic and burst-fire ability.
it's fast.
it's accurate.
it's lethal.
narrator: the m4 carbine is the standard-issue assault rifle for the u.
s.
army.
[ indistinct shouting .]
it's perfectly suited for the modern battlefield, where precision is paramount.
in close-quarter combat conditions, it's able to hit the enemy where you want to and at the time you want to.
this rifle has saved my life many, many times in afghanistan.
narrator: for a general-purpose gun, the m4 is astonishingly accurate.
its nato-standard 5.
56 rounds are engineered to minimize recoil.
its 14.
5-inch barrel is precisely rifled to discharge bullets at 3,000 feet per second.
[ gunfire .]
a regular infantry man can hit a football-sized target 500 yards away and punch clean through steel plate.
but the m4 is not in this countdown of precision weapons because of its long-range accuracy.
in modern urban warfare, most gun battles take place at relatively close range, and that's where the m4 comes into its own as a surgical striker.
city fight or a 100-yard fight or a 200-yard fight, the m4 is going to be extremely accurate.
narrator: the m4 is lightweight and compact.
fully loaded with a 30-round magazine, it weighs just 6.
9 pounds, making it two pounds lighter and six inches shorter than the m16.
in semi-automatic mode, it fires single shots.
in burst mode, it unleashes three rounds in a fraction of a second.
man: go, go, go, go, go, go! clear! it's very, very quick, very, very accurate, and can carry a lot of ammunition, so even special operations troops have -- not universally but often -- chosen it as their weapon of choice because of its quickness, its lightness, and its reliability.
narrator: on its own, the m4 is precise.
accessories make it even better.
telescopic sights, hand grips, and laser target pointers enhance its accuracy.
man: it's the best weapon the military has right now.
it gives you distance precision.
it gives you a hell of a stopping power from close quarters.
it's a spectacular weapon.
it's awesome.
narrator: the m4 is the u.
s.
army's main rifle for infantry, ranger, and special operations.
offering long-range precision and close-quarter lethality, it's the perfect assault rifle.
the m4's modular design makes it the most ingenious rifle around.
its combination of precision and power in a lightweight package tops its class.
overall, the m4 earns the number-8 position in our countdown.
at number 7, a unique combination of a highly maneuverable helicopter and a heavyweight, ultraprecise sniper rifle -- the u.
s.
coast guard's hitron weapon system.
origin -- u.
s.
a.
cost -- $9.
7 million.
weight -- 8,900 pounds.
length -- 44.
5 feet.
the hitron weapon system is at the front line of the u.
s.
coast guard's war on drugs, designed to hunt down and immobilize the high-speed boats that drug runners use.
it's supremely effective, responsible for $10 billion worth of drug seizures since it went into service.
man: we push the aircraft and our crew to the very limits every single day, every mission.
caddick-adams: stable platform in a helicopter, .
50-caliber round fired from a barrett rifle.
put it all together, is a showstopper.
[ gunshot .]
narrator: the precision firepower comes from the barrett m107 sniper rifle.
a semi-automatic, air-cooled, short-recoil rifle, it's the sniper's equivalent of heavy artillery, but it's also amazingly accurate.
in use with armies around the world, the barrett rifle is one of the world's most lethal long-distance sniper weapons, legendary for recording a kill shot at over 2,500 yards.
the other half of this awesome double act is the mh-65d dolphin helicopter, a european speed machine adapted for u.
s.
forces.
the capabilities allow us to operate far offshore, day, night, under any conditions, virtually any weather.
narrator: the hitron's precision capabilities begin with its capacity to track a target.
onboard surveillance systems and night-vision equipment enable it to intercept even the fastest boats -- not that it's easy when it's a speedboat capable of 70 knots.
u.
s.
coast guard cutters can't outrun them, but when there is a hitron helicopter in the air, it's a different story.
the twin-engine mh-65 chopper has a range of 290 nautical miles and a top speed of 200 miles per hour.
if we were chasing james bond in the film, he would not get away.
narrator: if a go-fast won't surrender after being warned, first a volley of shots from the m240 machine gun.
[ machine-gun fire .]
then the m107 is unleashed.
it is mounted on a braided belt strung across the helicopter's door, a simple but flexible setup to absorb the chopper's movement.
the m107 is equipped with dual laser and holographic sights.
a hovering mh-65 is a stable platform, but coordination is vital to get a shot on target.
man: precision is paramount in this job.
there's constant communication back and forth between the front and the back.
narrator: the trick is to disable the boat without hitting anyone on board.
once the 660-grain bullet hits the engine, it's done.
[ gunshot .]
narrator: the hitron squad has been in service since 1998.
it was designed for a specific threat, but it's versatile enough for multiple roles.
the design is simple, but the concept is innovative and unexpected.
nothing compares to the hitron system.
it's in a class of its own.
overall, the hitron weapon system earns the number-7 position.
coming up next, weapons that provide awesome precision and deadly firepower.
narrator: at number 6, an aircraft with legendary precision the grumman a-6 intruder.
origin -- u.
s.
a.
cost -- $43 million.
weight -- 30 tons.
length -- 55 feet.
in a modern navy, the aircraft carrier is the queen of the seas, but any carrier is only as good as the planes on board.
for decades, the mainstay of the u.
s.
navy was the grumman a-6 intruder.
the granddaddy of modern high-tech planes, it was a phenomenal weapons platform whose surgical-strike capabilities were unparalleled.
this is one of the first aircraft of its type that is an all-weather flight that can undertake ground-attack roles and take on enemy aircraft, and that was pretty unique.
narrator: the intruder would never have won a beauty contest, but that wasn't the point.
its large, bulbous nose contains sophisticated search-and-tracking radar and electronic navigation units, which together formed its ultraprecise digital integrated attack navigation system.
it had extremely effective avionics to allow it to hit precision targets at night and in all weather systems.
this was a capability that was unheard of in the 1960s.
narrator: when the time came to attack, the a-6 could carry an awesome weapons load of 18,000 pounds from five hard points under its body.
only the b-1 and b-52 ground-based bombers could carry more.
the a-6 was used primarily for ground-attack missions.
other aircraft would keep hostile air defense assets at bay and enemy fighters.
well, it would go in and, with a very, very high degree of precision, attack enemy targets on the ground in support of friendly ground troops.
[ beeping .]
narrator: as weapon systems developed, the a-6 was adapted to carry all the latest missiles -- harm, slam, and maverick precision-guided rockets.
it could deliver almost every weapon system from carriers or, indeed, from ground bases.
narrator: equipped with two pratt & whitney static turbo-thrust engines, the a-6 was capable of 646 miles per hour at sea level and 555 miles per hour at 35,000 feet.
but the a-6 was never a speed machine.
power and precision were its trademarks, and those it delivered in spades.
the americans are great in terms of the titles that they give their aircraft.
the intruder is designed to be extremely obnoxious in terms of entering enemy territory and doing immense harm.
narrator: in service for three decades, the a-6 dominated the battlefield with deadly precision.
it proved itself a versatile platform for multiple weapon systems.
the a-6 was a revolutionary leap for its time, both in conception and operation.
in its heyday, its accuracy put it in a class of its own.
overall, the a-6 intruder earns the number-6 position.
at number 5, a weapon that combines inch-perfect precision and devastating firepower -- the c-ram centurion.
origin -- u.
s.
a.
cost -- $15 million.
weight -- 26.
5 tons.
length -- 45 feet.
it's big, it's ugly, it's brutal, but this is a weapon system capable of amazing precision.
i think this is the next up-and-coming weapon system for the military.
narrator: the c-ram centurion is an awesome combination of a highly accurate raytheon radar and a high-caliber gatling gun, designed to take out any incoming shells, rockets, and mortars that get within a mile of it.
you think about trying to hit something about this big that's traveling about 300 meters per second, and it's probably about a kilometer away -- it's not an easy thing to do.
narrator: the key to the c-ram's precision is its powerful ku-band search radar.
located within the 15-foot radar dome, it is permanently on guard, scanning 10 square miles of sky for enemy activity.
if it detects incoming fire, it sounds an alarm man: incoming! incoming! incoming! narrator: giving troops time to take cover.
what c-ram does very quickly is calculate from the angle of flight where the incoming missile is likely to be.
narrator: centurion's six-barrel m61 gatling gun can discharge its massive 20mm shells at an ear-splitting 4,500 rounds per minute.
it's like a lion roaring.
it's amazing.
narrator: centurion's computer constantly fine-tunes the gun's position.
it aims ahead of an enemy projectile so bullet and incoming shell arrive at the same position at the same time with a bang.
this system has saved my life over seven different times by engaging and destroying mortars in air.
narrator: but a wall of lead traveling at 3,600 feet per second could do massive collateral damage.
so centurion doesn't fire ordinary shells.
costing $27 per shell, its m940 rounds aren't cheap.
but four seconds after firing, they self-destruct.
small internal charges shatter them into harmless fragments.
c-ram's hit rate is remarkably high.
in iraq, it was shown to bring down up to 80% of the projectiles within its field of fire.
man: this system is the coolest weapon system i've worked on in the army, and it is amazing.
narrator: in service since 2005, centurion has consistently performed well.
originally designed for use on ships, it is versatile enough to work on land.
its design effectively combines precision tracking and accurate firepower.
centurion tops the class of close-in weapon systems.
it deserves the number-5 position in our countdown of surgical strikers.
up next, the weapons taking precision to the next level.
narrator: coming in at number 4, a ferociously accurate, ultraportable anti-tank weapon.
the javelin.
origin -- u.
s.
a.
cost -- $222,000.
weight -- 49 pounds.
length -- 47 inches.
tank crews like to think of themselves as the lords of the battlefield.
but if there's a soldier with a javelin nearby, they need to think again.
this state-of-the-art portable missile launcher is designed to give infantry the edge.
it has a range of 2,500 meters and a precision warhead that can penetrate armor 660 millimeters thick.
it turns ground troops, literally, into tank killers.
if i was in a tank, and there was a guy on a building with a javelin, i'd probably not want to be in that tank anymore.
narrator: the infantry of the 1st division, "the old ironsides," are experts in precision weaponry.
the javelin is a two-man operation -- one to hump the 26-pound missile and disposable launch tube, the other to carry its sophisticated electronics.
it's a modular system designed for ease of use and flexibility.
man: it shouldn't take you more than a few seconds to get the weapon system together and up and running to engage any target that we need to engage.
narrator: the command launch unit -- the "clu" -- is the eyes and brain of the javelin.
it has two targeting systems -- an optical sight, which enables fourfold magnification, and a sensitive thermal imaging system which tracks infrared emissions.
it works by day and night and can see through fog and smoke.
there are very sophisticated optics attached to the javelin weapon system.
you can alter them so you can extend the range.
you can look at your targets quite close.
narrator: once the enemy is sighted, the gunner moves the electronic cursor onto the target, locks on target acquired! and the information is transmitted to the missile's self-guidance system.
an initial charge gets the missile out of the launcher before the onboard engine kicks in.
on launch, the missile produces minimal smoke and minimal recoil.
it's much safer for infantry to fire it.
you just hold your breath for a second and shoot, and you don't need the giant clear space behind you.
narrator: in flight, the missile hones in on its target, using its smart infrared guidance system.
caddick-adams: you fire it and forget, and the computer just takes over and does the rest.
narrator: to take out a tank, the javelin ascends to 500 feet and goes into indirect mode.
most armored vehicles are thickly protected around the sides and front.
what you really need to do is kill it from above, and that's what javelin allows you to do.
all you do is program into the missile "that's the target i want," pops, fires, and lands right on top of that tank, and takes it out.
man: it's gonna burn out all the electronics within the tank, along with the crew to operate the tank.
narrator: but the javelin isn't just a david-versus-goliath tank buster.
its versatility and pinpoint precision make it a potent threat against multiple targets, bunkers, hovering helicopters, armored personnel carriers.
no one gets away.
if i had a choice on what anti-armor weapon i would carry, it would definitely be the javelin.
narrator: the javelin has seen active service in iraq and afghanistan.
it scores high on versatility, deadly accurate against moving and static targets.
its electronics are state of the art.
no other anti-tank system is so deadly precise.
javelin has twice the range of its predecessor.
it's a world-class weapon.
overall, the javelin earns the number-4 position.
coming in at number 3, a surgical-strike weapon of the first order the los angeles-class submarine.
origin -- u.
s.
a.
cost -- $900 million.
weight -- 6,900 tons.
length -- 360 feet.
the los angeles-class submarine is a surgical striker with legendary powers, precisely engineered to deliver highly accurate strikes.
it's fast, powerfully armed, and virtually impossible to detect.
huston: i think the los angeles-class submarine may be the most dangerous underwater weapon ever devised.
there's probably no better anti-submarine capability in the world.
narrator: precision is at the core of the l.
a.
-class design.
it is equipped with multiple listening systems, active sonar for echo sounding, and passive sonar for detecting and tracking enemy vessels.
when a hostile target is registered, the l.
a.
-class sub has the speed and the precision to hunt it down.
man: man battle stations.
[ alarm blares .]
narrator: standard issue is the mark 48 torpedo.
it weighs 3,500 pounds and carries a 650-pound warhead.
man: fire.
narrator: on launch, it can remain connected to the submarine via wires, allowing it to be precisely guided to its target, be it an enemy sub or surface vessel.
the los angeles class is high in the countdown not only because it can launch precision strikes but because its precision engineering is responsible for its most lethal feature -- silence.
thomas: in submarine warfare, it is more important to be quiet while submerged than any other single protective factor.
narrator: los angeles-class submarines are regularly deployed to protect u.
s.
naval battle groups and carriers.
man: dive, dive.
narrator: its uranium-fueled nuclear reactor delivers the equivalent of 35,000 shaft horsepower, enough to power a naval frigate.
on the surface, an l.
a.
class can travel at 18 knots.
underwater, its maximum speed almost doubles to 32 knots.
officially, it can submerge to a depth of 1,500 feet, but just how deep it can really go remains classified.
the los angeles-class submarine's ability to arrive undetected where it's wanted, when it's wanted has extended its role beyond that of submarine hunter-killer.
it's an invisible platform for cruise missiles that can be used for precision attacks on long-range targets.
40 years since it was first commissioned, the los angeles class remains one of the most potent and precise weapons in the u.
s.
military's arsenal.
huston: they are so quiet and so capable, they can pretty much sneak up on anybody they want and be there without them knowing about it.
that's pretty scary.
narrator: the l.
a.
-class submarine has been in service since the mid-1970s.
it's a versatile platform for short- and long-distance precision attacks.
continual re-engineering has made it the most effective silent killer around.
it remains the backbone of the u.
s.
navy, at the top of its class.
overall, the los angeles class earns the number-3 position.
we've featured surgical strikers on land, sea, and in the air.
but what will take the number-1 spot? narrator: taking the runner-up position in our surgical-strike countdown, a deadly accurate field gun fire! the m777.
origin -- u.
k.
cost -- $3 million.
weight -- 4.
7 tons.
length -- 33.
5 feet.
the m777 is an amazing fusion of high-tech components and materials in a rugged artillery gun.
it's lightweight, it's easy to maneuver, it's accurate, it provides a high volume of very lethal fire on the enemy.
so it's a fantastic weapon system.
the m77 towed howitzer is definitely the baddest piece in today's artillery.
narrator: the m777 combines state-of-the-art tech with raw power.
fire! its computerized digital fire-control system uses gps to pinpoint its own position and precisely calculate the trajectory and direction of an outgoing shell.
once the target is fixed, gunners use ruggedly simple hand-cranked wheels to adjust the horizontal and vertical alignment of the gun barrel with millimeter precision.
it's not just pointing the howitzer in the direction of the target and pulling the lanyard and having it go off.
the fire-control solution compensates for things like the rotation of the earth, the winds aloft, the air temperature, the air density, the temperature of the propellant, the number of rounds that have been fired through that howitzer.
narrator: armed with conventional munitions, it is deadly accurate.
man: this gun has a maximum range of about 24k.
i could be standing 18 miles away from the enemy and reach out and touch them.
narrator: armed with excalibur gps-guided smart shells, its precision is simply phenomenal.
grice: using smart weapons, the m777 howitzer is capable of putting a 155mm projectile within a meter of the target at a range of over 25,000 meters.
we can truly say that we have pinpoint accuracy.
narrator: manufactured from titanium and aluminum alloy, the m777 is a jaw-dropping three tons lighter than its predecessor but just as lethal.
you can transport it via helicopter, via the mv-22 osprey.
it can come off an amphibious ship.
it can be towed by a truck.
and if worse comes to worst, six guys can drag that thing around the battlefield and deploy it.
narrator: within a few minutes, the m777 can be deployed and ready to fire multiple rounds.
the destructive power of a single 100-pound shell is immense.
what we have is a 50-meter kill radius and a 250-meter shrapnel zone, which will hurt anybody down there.
if i was on the receiving end of these artillery rounds, i would have the worst day in history.
i would run -- run -- for cover.
narrator: introduced in 2005, the m777 is one of the u.
s.
army's top surgical strikers.
it scores high on versatility, providing accurate destructive, suppressive, or protective fire.
its ultralight construction and advanced electronics are world beating.
the m777 is the most accurate towed howitzer on the planet, best in its class.
with strong marks all around, it deserves the number-2 position in our countdown.
today we've entered a new era of precision warfare.
technology has improved and expectations have risen.
whether the enemy is close or many miles away, it is now more than ever possible to attack them with true accuracy.
but when you compare all the options available on the modern battlefield, one precision weapon soars above all the others.
at number 1 the tomahawk cruise missile.
origin -- u.
s.
a.
cost -- $1 million.
weight -- 1.
5 tons.
length -- 20 feet.
the tomahawk is an awesomely precise subsonic missile designed to hit a one-meter-square target over 1,000 miles away.
it can go through a specific window in a specific building from a very long way away.
typically, it's deployed against high-value targets -- command centers, presidential palaces.
an easy way to tell the united states is upset with you is if tomahawks are landing in your city.
narrator: the key to its unmatched precision lies in its multiple navigation systems.
before launch, the target's map coordinates are programmed in.
over water, the tomahawk uses simple inertial guidance, gyroscopes, and accelerometers to keep it on course.
then, when it reaches land, it switches to gps or tercom, an electronic terrain matching system, which compares the tomahawk's position to map data stored in its memory.
there's the famous story of a war correspondent in the 1991 persian gulf war seeing a cruise missile following a road and turning at a junction and following the road again.
narrator: in the final stage, for pinpoint accuracy, it relies on digital scene matching, honing in on target using a stored photographic image.
so it's supersmart because it'll hit exactly the target you aim for with a picture of it and deliver 1,000 pounds of explosives.
that kind of precision is just amazing and gives you a capability that's never been heard of before the tomahawk existed.
narrator: originally designed during the height of the cold war, the tomahawk can carry both nuclear warheads and 1,000 pounds of conventional explosive.
variants of the tomahawk can be programmed to release packages of submunitions for wide-area destruction.
the tomahawk is equally versatile when it comes to launching -- from land from sea from high in the air, and deep in the ocean.
recent wars have showcased its surgical-strike capabilities.
since the start of desert storm in 1991, over 2,000 tomahawk missiles have been deployed.
they played a decisive role in the recent conflict in libya and both gulf wars.
you can do with precision what is formerly done with volume.
narrator: the tomahawk is a visionary weapon that has changed the face of modern warfare.
it's now impossible to think of a major military operation without the u.
s.
or the united kingdom deploying tomahawk cruise missiles.
capps: being able to deliver a 1,000-pound payload or a nuclear payload 2,500 kilometers away -- it's not really sporting, but it's awfully nice when it's you firing the tomahawks.
narrator: it's been instrumental in almost every u.
s.
engagement since the early 1990s.
the tomahawk scores high on versatility with its multi-warhead, multi-launcher capability.
its advanced guidance systems deliver maximum precision.
continual updating means no other missile can boast the tomahawk's deadly accuracy.
overall, the tomahawk earns the number-1 position.
a new era of precision warfare is dawning.
modern-day high-tech weapons are now able to deliver levels of accuracy that in the past could only be dreamed of.
there are many strong contenders for the number-1 position, but in the end, one weapon rises above all the others, epitomizing the surgical strike -- the tomahawk cruise missile.
a single strike from a precision weapon can have a decisive effect on the course of any battle.
the ability to deploy precision-strike weapons has completely changed the nature of war.
[ gunfire .]
it's the whole idea, so you have to be able to hit your target.
narrator: we're counting down the top 10 precision weapons in every theater of war.
from the mighty f-16 to the pinpoint-accurate javelin and the ultramodern holland-class patrol vessel to find out which one delivers the most accurate surgical strike.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS English Sbutitles Collected and Modified By: precision has always been a goal of weapon designers.
but only now in the era of high-tech warfare have weapon systems truly achieved revolutionary accuracy.
the whole nature of warfare is now changing because you expect precision to be there at every level.
narrator: advanced communications and targeting systems have made the impossible possible.
the amount of error that's associated with our smart weapons are such that we can truly say that we have pinpoint accuracy.
narrator: though many weapon systems aspire towards precision, which ones can really deliver a truly surgical strike? with the help of military experts, we're counting down some of the most accurate weapon systems on the planet.
each machine will be assessed on the balance of to determine our definitive top 10.
at number 10, a devastatingly precise fighter plane the f-16 fighting falcon.
origin -- u.
s.
a.
cost -- $18.
8 million.
weight -- 24 tons.
length -- 49 feet.
in service with 25 air forces worldwide, the iconic f-16 is one of the world's most effective fighter jets.
a groundbreaking design and ultraprecise handling make it perfect for launching surgical strikes.
man: the f-16 is very maneuverable.
it's fast.
basically anything you can ask it to do, it can do, and it does it very well.
huston: it's a terrific airplane, one of the best fighters in the world.
narrator: at less than 50 feet long, the f-16 is small in size but it punches above its weight.
caddick-adams: around the aircraft are hard points, which means you can bolt on any array of air-to-ground, air-to-air missiles, which can take out targets with a great deal of precision.
narrator: today's f-16s are equipped with radar-guided sparrow and aim-120 missiles for air-to-air combat and jdam gps-enabled smart bombs for ultimate air-to-surface precision.
they are accurate to within 10 feet from 15 miles away.
man: the f-16's very precise.
if you had a small type of shack or an outhouse, you could hit it with a bomb.
narrator: everything on the f-16 has been done to optimize handling and enable precision flying.
a frameless bubble canopy provides 360-degree visibility.
a side-mounted electronic joystick gives a pilot ultrasensitive control of the aircraft.
with its pratt & whitney engine generating 29,000 pounds of thrust, an f-16 can reach a top speed of mach two and is capable of ascending at a rate of 50,000 feet per minute.
its aluminum alloy wings are strong enough to withstand nine times the force of gravity.
huston: when you have an airplane like that, you can out-turn anybody.
narrator: for ground-attack missions, the f-16's accuracy and firepower is renowned.
caddick-adams: morale of infantry on the ground soars when they know that f-16s are in the area to help them out.
narrator: the f-16 uses advanced uhf and vhf radio to allow pilots to communicate directly with ground troops to be talked on to target.
this close support role, working with troops who might be within a few hundred yards of the enemy, requires exceptional precision.
man: it is a huge responsibility and something that no fighter pilot takes lightly.
we practice, and we study, and we work very hard to be the best at what we're doing, and we are the best at what we're doing.
narrator: with over 4,500 built, the f-16 has been in service since the late 1970s.
it scores high for versatility with the range of precision weapon systems it can deploy.
a groundbreaking design, it has benefited from continuous evolutions in weapon-targeting systems.
though superseded by newer planes, the f-16 still flies near the top of its class.
overall, the f-16 scores well, earning it the number-10 position in our countdown.
at number 9, a brand-new, highly automated offshore patrol vessel the holland-class opv.
origin -- the netherlands.
cost -- $150 million.
weight -- 3,750 tons.
length -- 356 feet.
there's a new weapon against the pirates who prowl in international waters the holland class, an offshore patrol vessel, purpose-built for maritime security.
its ultraprecise weapon systems and tracking tools are designed to take out pirates and smugglers with minimum risk to innocent shipping.
they've been designed with a very real role in mind for the 21st century.
man: it's the best ship you can get this for task.
it has two interceptors, which are great, and a great helicopter, so we can get the bad guys at all times.
narrator: the holland class is armed with a highly accurate 76mm gun, which can discharge 120 rounds per minute and hit a target 18 miles away.
the key to the holland class precision tracking capabilities lies within its 45-foot-high, 52-ton integrated mast module.
it contains $38.
5 million worth of electronic sensors, including sea master early-warning radar, designed to simultaneously track hundreds of air and surface targets.
man: the pirates and the drug smugglers are operating small, fast boats.
they are really hard to detect, but we can see them.
narrator: when a suspect boat is identified, the holland class twin-diesel engines kick in, offering a maximum speed of 21 knots.
its elongated hull and broad platform adds stability and optimized maneuverability.
each holland class carries both a helicopter and two superfast interceptor boats.
man: they weigh like eight tons.
they can move 45 knots and get the bad guys and get them out.
narrator: if the bad guys fire back, the holland class can defend itself with lethal accuracy.
its automated weapon systems are remotely controlled from behind blastproof glass.
in addition to its main gun, it has a pair of .
50-caliber machine guns and a 30mm cannon that can fire over 200 rounds per minute.
if i was a pirate and if i see this ship coming towards me, i would run the hell out.
narrator: a brand-new ship, the holland class is yet to prove its operational value.
it is perfect for maritime security but versatile enough for multiple roles.
it's designed for maximum precision with a world-beating tracking system.
it is the latest evolution in seaborn security, the leader within its class.
overall, the holland class earns the number-9 position.
coming up, precision like you've never seen it before.
narrator: at number 8 in our countdown of the most surgical strikers, a lightweight gun capable of amazing accuracy the m4 assault rifle.
origin -- u.
s.
a.
cost -- $649.
weight -- 7 pounds.
length -- 33 inches.
this is the m4, the u.
s.
army's calling card.
it's an air-cooled, gas-operated shoulder-fire weapon.
it's got semi-automatic and burst-fire ability.
it's fast.
it's accurate.
it's lethal.
narrator: the m4 carbine is the standard-issue assault rifle for the u.
s.
army.
[ indistinct shouting .]
it's perfectly suited for the modern battlefield, where precision is paramount.
in close-quarter combat conditions, it's able to hit the enemy where you want to and at the time you want to.
this rifle has saved my life many, many times in afghanistan.
narrator: for a general-purpose gun, the m4 is astonishingly accurate.
its nato-standard 5.
56 rounds are engineered to minimize recoil.
its 14.
5-inch barrel is precisely rifled to discharge bullets at 3,000 feet per second.
[ gunfire .]
a regular infantry man can hit a football-sized target 500 yards away and punch clean through steel plate.
but the m4 is not in this countdown of precision weapons because of its long-range accuracy.
in modern urban warfare, most gun battles take place at relatively close range, and that's where the m4 comes into its own as a surgical striker.
city fight or a 100-yard fight or a 200-yard fight, the m4 is going to be extremely accurate.
narrator: the m4 is lightweight and compact.
fully loaded with a 30-round magazine, it weighs just 6.
9 pounds, making it two pounds lighter and six inches shorter than the m16.
in semi-automatic mode, it fires single shots.
in burst mode, it unleashes three rounds in a fraction of a second.
man: go, go, go, go, go, go! clear! it's very, very quick, very, very accurate, and can carry a lot of ammunition, so even special operations troops have -- not universally but often -- chosen it as their weapon of choice because of its quickness, its lightness, and its reliability.
narrator: on its own, the m4 is precise.
accessories make it even better.
telescopic sights, hand grips, and laser target pointers enhance its accuracy.
man: it's the best weapon the military has right now.
it gives you distance precision.
it gives you a hell of a stopping power from close quarters.
it's a spectacular weapon.
it's awesome.
narrator: the m4 is the u.
s.
army's main rifle for infantry, ranger, and special operations.
offering long-range precision and close-quarter lethality, it's the perfect assault rifle.
the m4's modular design makes it the most ingenious rifle around.
its combination of precision and power in a lightweight package tops its class.
overall, the m4 earns the number-8 position in our countdown.
at number 7, a unique combination of a highly maneuverable helicopter and a heavyweight, ultraprecise sniper rifle -- the u.
s.
coast guard's hitron weapon system.
origin -- u.
s.
a.
cost -- $9.
7 million.
weight -- 8,900 pounds.
length -- 44.
5 feet.
the hitron weapon system is at the front line of the u.
s.
coast guard's war on drugs, designed to hunt down and immobilize the high-speed boats that drug runners use.
it's supremely effective, responsible for $10 billion worth of drug seizures since it went into service.
man: we push the aircraft and our crew to the very limits every single day, every mission.
caddick-adams: stable platform in a helicopter, .
50-caliber round fired from a barrett rifle.
put it all together, is a showstopper.
[ gunshot .]
narrator: the precision firepower comes from the barrett m107 sniper rifle.
a semi-automatic, air-cooled, short-recoil rifle, it's the sniper's equivalent of heavy artillery, but it's also amazingly accurate.
in use with armies around the world, the barrett rifle is one of the world's most lethal long-distance sniper weapons, legendary for recording a kill shot at over 2,500 yards.
the other half of this awesome double act is the mh-65d dolphin helicopter, a european speed machine adapted for u.
s.
forces.
the capabilities allow us to operate far offshore, day, night, under any conditions, virtually any weather.
narrator: the hitron's precision capabilities begin with its capacity to track a target.
onboard surveillance systems and night-vision equipment enable it to intercept even the fastest boats -- not that it's easy when it's a speedboat capable of 70 knots.
u.
s.
coast guard cutters can't outrun them, but when there is a hitron helicopter in the air, it's a different story.
the twin-engine mh-65 chopper has a range of 290 nautical miles and a top speed of 200 miles per hour.
if we were chasing james bond in the film, he would not get away.
narrator: if a go-fast won't surrender after being warned, first a volley of shots from the m240 machine gun.
[ machine-gun fire .]
then the m107 is unleashed.
it is mounted on a braided belt strung across the helicopter's door, a simple but flexible setup to absorb the chopper's movement.
the m107 is equipped with dual laser and holographic sights.
a hovering mh-65 is a stable platform, but coordination is vital to get a shot on target.
man: precision is paramount in this job.
there's constant communication back and forth between the front and the back.
narrator: the trick is to disable the boat without hitting anyone on board.
once the 660-grain bullet hits the engine, it's done.
[ gunshot .]
narrator: the hitron squad has been in service since 1998.
it was designed for a specific threat, but it's versatile enough for multiple roles.
the design is simple, but the concept is innovative and unexpected.
nothing compares to the hitron system.
it's in a class of its own.
overall, the hitron weapon system earns the number-7 position.
coming up next, weapons that provide awesome precision and deadly firepower.
narrator: at number 6, an aircraft with legendary precision the grumman a-6 intruder.
origin -- u.
s.
a.
cost -- $43 million.
weight -- 30 tons.
length -- 55 feet.
in a modern navy, the aircraft carrier is the queen of the seas, but any carrier is only as good as the planes on board.
for decades, the mainstay of the u.
s.
navy was the grumman a-6 intruder.
the granddaddy of modern high-tech planes, it was a phenomenal weapons platform whose surgical-strike capabilities were unparalleled.
this is one of the first aircraft of its type that is an all-weather flight that can undertake ground-attack roles and take on enemy aircraft, and that was pretty unique.
narrator: the intruder would never have won a beauty contest, but that wasn't the point.
its large, bulbous nose contains sophisticated search-and-tracking radar and electronic navigation units, which together formed its ultraprecise digital integrated attack navigation system.
it had extremely effective avionics to allow it to hit precision targets at night and in all weather systems.
this was a capability that was unheard of in the 1960s.
narrator: when the time came to attack, the a-6 could carry an awesome weapons load of 18,000 pounds from five hard points under its body.
only the b-1 and b-52 ground-based bombers could carry more.
the a-6 was used primarily for ground-attack missions.
other aircraft would keep hostile air defense assets at bay and enemy fighters.
well, it would go in and, with a very, very high degree of precision, attack enemy targets on the ground in support of friendly ground troops.
[ beeping .]
narrator: as weapon systems developed, the a-6 was adapted to carry all the latest missiles -- harm, slam, and maverick precision-guided rockets.
it could deliver almost every weapon system from carriers or, indeed, from ground bases.
narrator: equipped with two pratt & whitney static turbo-thrust engines, the a-6 was capable of 646 miles per hour at sea level and 555 miles per hour at 35,000 feet.
but the a-6 was never a speed machine.
power and precision were its trademarks, and those it delivered in spades.
the americans are great in terms of the titles that they give their aircraft.
the intruder is designed to be extremely obnoxious in terms of entering enemy territory and doing immense harm.
narrator: in service for three decades, the a-6 dominated the battlefield with deadly precision.
it proved itself a versatile platform for multiple weapon systems.
the a-6 was a revolutionary leap for its time, both in conception and operation.
in its heyday, its accuracy put it in a class of its own.
overall, the a-6 intruder earns the number-6 position.
at number 5, a weapon that combines inch-perfect precision and devastating firepower -- the c-ram centurion.
origin -- u.
s.
a.
cost -- $15 million.
weight -- 26.
5 tons.
length -- 45 feet.
it's big, it's ugly, it's brutal, but this is a weapon system capable of amazing precision.
i think this is the next up-and-coming weapon system for the military.
narrator: the c-ram centurion is an awesome combination of a highly accurate raytheon radar and a high-caliber gatling gun, designed to take out any incoming shells, rockets, and mortars that get within a mile of it.
you think about trying to hit something about this big that's traveling about 300 meters per second, and it's probably about a kilometer away -- it's not an easy thing to do.
narrator: the key to the c-ram's precision is its powerful ku-band search radar.
located within the 15-foot radar dome, it is permanently on guard, scanning 10 square miles of sky for enemy activity.
if it detects incoming fire, it sounds an alarm man: incoming! incoming! incoming! narrator: giving troops time to take cover.
what c-ram does very quickly is calculate from the angle of flight where the incoming missile is likely to be.
narrator: centurion's six-barrel m61 gatling gun can discharge its massive 20mm shells at an ear-splitting 4,500 rounds per minute.
it's like a lion roaring.
it's amazing.
narrator: centurion's computer constantly fine-tunes the gun's position.
it aims ahead of an enemy projectile so bullet and incoming shell arrive at the same position at the same time with a bang.
this system has saved my life over seven different times by engaging and destroying mortars in air.
narrator: but a wall of lead traveling at 3,600 feet per second could do massive collateral damage.
so centurion doesn't fire ordinary shells.
costing $27 per shell, its m940 rounds aren't cheap.
but four seconds after firing, they self-destruct.
small internal charges shatter them into harmless fragments.
c-ram's hit rate is remarkably high.
in iraq, it was shown to bring down up to 80% of the projectiles within its field of fire.
man: this system is the coolest weapon system i've worked on in the army, and it is amazing.
narrator: in service since 2005, centurion has consistently performed well.
originally designed for use on ships, it is versatile enough to work on land.
its design effectively combines precision tracking and accurate firepower.
centurion tops the class of close-in weapon systems.
it deserves the number-5 position in our countdown of surgical strikers.
up next, the weapons taking precision to the next level.
narrator: coming in at number 4, a ferociously accurate, ultraportable anti-tank weapon.
the javelin.
origin -- u.
s.
a.
cost -- $222,000.
weight -- 49 pounds.
length -- 47 inches.
tank crews like to think of themselves as the lords of the battlefield.
but if there's a soldier with a javelin nearby, they need to think again.
this state-of-the-art portable missile launcher is designed to give infantry the edge.
it has a range of 2,500 meters and a precision warhead that can penetrate armor 660 millimeters thick.
it turns ground troops, literally, into tank killers.
if i was in a tank, and there was a guy on a building with a javelin, i'd probably not want to be in that tank anymore.
narrator: the infantry of the 1st division, "the old ironsides," are experts in precision weaponry.
the javelin is a two-man operation -- one to hump the 26-pound missile and disposable launch tube, the other to carry its sophisticated electronics.
it's a modular system designed for ease of use and flexibility.
man: it shouldn't take you more than a few seconds to get the weapon system together and up and running to engage any target that we need to engage.
narrator: the command launch unit -- the "clu" -- is the eyes and brain of the javelin.
it has two targeting systems -- an optical sight, which enables fourfold magnification, and a sensitive thermal imaging system which tracks infrared emissions.
it works by day and night and can see through fog and smoke.
there are very sophisticated optics attached to the javelin weapon system.
you can alter them so you can extend the range.
you can look at your targets quite close.
narrator: once the enemy is sighted, the gunner moves the electronic cursor onto the target, locks on target acquired! and the information is transmitted to the missile's self-guidance system.
an initial charge gets the missile out of the launcher before the onboard engine kicks in.
on launch, the missile produces minimal smoke and minimal recoil.
it's much safer for infantry to fire it.
you just hold your breath for a second and shoot, and you don't need the giant clear space behind you.
narrator: in flight, the missile hones in on its target, using its smart infrared guidance system.
caddick-adams: you fire it and forget, and the computer just takes over and does the rest.
narrator: to take out a tank, the javelin ascends to 500 feet and goes into indirect mode.
most armored vehicles are thickly protected around the sides and front.
what you really need to do is kill it from above, and that's what javelin allows you to do.
all you do is program into the missile "that's the target i want," pops, fires, and lands right on top of that tank, and takes it out.
man: it's gonna burn out all the electronics within the tank, along with the crew to operate the tank.
narrator: but the javelin isn't just a david-versus-goliath tank buster.
its versatility and pinpoint precision make it a potent threat against multiple targets, bunkers, hovering helicopters, armored personnel carriers.
no one gets away.
if i had a choice on what anti-armor weapon i would carry, it would definitely be the javelin.
narrator: the javelin has seen active service in iraq and afghanistan.
it scores high on versatility, deadly accurate against moving and static targets.
its electronics are state of the art.
no other anti-tank system is so deadly precise.
javelin has twice the range of its predecessor.
it's a world-class weapon.
overall, the javelin earns the number-4 position.
coming in at number 3, a surgical-strike weapon of the first order the los angeles-class submarine.
origin -- u.
s.
a.
cost -- $900 million.
weight -- 6,900 tons.
length -- 360 feet.
the los angeles-class submarine is a surgical striker with legendary powers, precisely engineered to deliver highly accurate strikes.
it's fast, powerfully armed, and virtually impossible to detect.
huston: i think the los angeles-class submarine may be the most dangerous underwater weapon ever devised.
there's probably no better anti-submarine capability in the world.
narrator: precision is at the core of the l.
a.
-class design.
it is equipped with multiple listening systems, active sonar for echo sounding, and passive sonar for detecting and tracking enemy vessels.
when a hostile target is registered, the l.
a.
-class sub has the speed and the precision to hunt it down.
man: man battle stations.
[ alarm blares .]
narrator: standard issue is the mark 48 torpedo.
it weighs 3,500 pounds and carries a 650-pound warhead.
man: fire.
narrator: on launch, it can remain connected to the submarine via wires, allowing it to be precisely guided to its target, be it an enemy sub or surface vessel.
the los angeles class is high in the countdown not only because it can launch precision strikes but because its precision engineering is responsible for its most lethal feature -- silence.
thomas: in submarine warfare, it is more important to be quiet while submerged than any other single protective factor.
narrator: los angeles-class submarines are regularly deployed to protect u.
s.
naval battle groups and carriers.
man: dive, dive.
narrator: its uranium-fueled nuclear reactor delivers the equivalent of 35,000 shaft horsepower, enough to power a naval frigate.
on the surface, an l.
a.
class can travel at 18 knots.
underwater, its maximum speed almost doubles to 32 knots.
officially, it can submerge to a depth of 1,500 feet, but just how deep it can really go remains classified.
the los angeles-class submarine's ability to arrive undetected where it's wanted, when it's wanted has extended its role beyond that of submarine hunter-killer.
it's an invisible platform for cruise missiles that can be used for precision attacks on long-range targets.
40 years since it was first commissioned, the los angeles class remains one of the most potent and precise weapons in the u.
s.
military's arsenal.
huston: they are so quiet and so capable, they can pretty much sneak up on anybody they want and be there without them knowing about it.
that's pretty scary.
narrator: the l.
a.
-class submarine has been in service since the mid-1970s.
it's a versatile platform for short- and long-distance precision attacks.
continual re-engineering has made it the most effective silent killer around.
it remains the backbone of the u.
s.
navy, at the top of its class.
overall, the los angeles class earns the number-3 position.
we've featured surgical strikers on land, sea, and in the air.
but what will take the number-1 spot? narrator: taking the runner-up position in our surgical-strike countdown, a deadly accurate field gun fire! the m777.
origin -- u.
k.
cost -- $3 million.
weight -- 4.
7 tons.
length -- 33.
5 feet.
the m777 is an amazing fusion of high-tech components and materials in a rugged artillery gun.
it's lightweight, it's easy to maneuver, it's accurate, it provides a high volume of very lethal fire on the enemy.
so it's a fantastic weapon system.
the m77 towed howitzer is definitely the baddest piece in today's artillery.
narrator: the m777 combines state-of-the-art tech with raw power.
fire! its computerized digital fire-control system uses gps to pinpoint its own position and precisely calculate the trajectory and direction of an outgoing shell.
once the target is fixed, gunners use ruggedly simple hand-cranked wheels to adjust the horizontal and vertical alignment of the gun barrel with millimeter precision.
it's not just pointing the howitzer in the direction of the target and pulling the lanyard and having it go off.
the fire-control solution compensates for things like the rotation of the earth, the winds aloft, the air temperature, the air density, the temperature of the propellant, the number of rounds that have been fired through that howitzer.
narrator: armed with conventional munitions, it is deadly accurate.
man: this gun has a maximum range of about 24k.
i could be standing 18 miles away from the enemy and reach out and touch them.
narrator: armed with excalibur gps-guided smart shells, its precision is simply phenomenal.
grice: using smart weapons, the m777 howitzer is capable of putting a 155mm projectile within a meter of the target at a range of over 25,000 meters.
we can truly say that we have pinpoint accuracy.
narrator: manufactured from titanium and aluminum alloy, the m777 is a jaw-dropping three tons lighter than its predecessor but just as lethal.
you can transport it via helicopter, via the mv-22 osprey.
it can come off an amphibious ship.
it can be towed by a truck.
and if worse comes to worst, six guys can drag that thing around the battlefield and deploy it.
narrator: within a few minutes, the m777 can be deployed and ready to fire multiple rounds.
the destructive power of a single 100-pound shell is immense.
what we have is a 50-meter kill radius and a 250-meter shrapnel zone, which will hurt anybody down there.
if i was on the receiving end of these artillery rounds, i would have the worst day in history.
i would run -- run -- for cover.
narrator: introduced in 2005, the m777 is one of the u.
s.
army's top surgical strikers.
it scores high on versatility, providing accurate destructive, suppressive, or protective fire.
its ultralight construction and advanced electronics are world beating.
the m777 is the most accurate towed howitzer on the planet, best in its class.
with strong marks all around, it deserves the number-2 position in our countdown.
today we've entered a new era of precision warfare.
technology has improved and expectations have risen.
whether the enemy is close or many miles away, it is now more than ever possible to attack them with true accuracy.
but when you compare all the options available on the modern battlefield, one precision weapon soars above all the others.
at number 1 the tomahawk cruise missile.
origin -- u.
s.
a.
cost -- $1 million.
weight -- 1.
5 tons.
length -- 20 feet.
the tomahawk is an awesomely precise subsonic missile designed to hit a one-meter-square target over 1,000 miles away.
it can go through a specific window in a specific building from a very long way away.
typically, it's deployed against high-value targets -- command centers, presidential palaces.
an easy way to tell the united states is upset with you is if tomahawks are landing in your city.
narrator: the key to its unmatched precision lies in its multiple navigation systems.
before launch, the target's map coordinates are programmed in.
over water, the tomahawk uses simple inertial guidance, gyroscopes, and accelerometers to keep it on course.
then, when it reaches land, it switches to gps or tercom, an electronic terrain matching system, which compares the tomahawk's position to map data stored in its memory.
there's the famous story of a war correspondent in the 1991 persian gulf war seeing a cruise missile following a road and turning at a junction and following the road again.
narrator: in the final stage, for pinpoint accuracy, it relies on digital scene matching, honing in on target using a stored photographic image.
so it's supersmart because it'll hit exactly the target you aim for with a picture of it and deliver 1,000 pounds of explosives.
that kind of precision is just amazing and gives you a capability that's never been heard of before the tomahawk existed.
narrator: originally designed during the height of the cold war, the tomahawk can carry both nuclear warheads and 1,000 pounds of conventional explosive.
variants of the tomahawk can be programmed to release packages of submunitions for wide-area destruction.
the tomahawk is equally versatile when it comes to launching -- from land from sea from high in the air, and deep in the ocean.
recent wars have showcased its surgical-strike capabilities.
since the start of desert storm in 1991, over 2,000 tomahawk missiles have been deployed.
they played a decisive role in the recent conflict in libya and both gulf wars.
you can do with precision what is formerly done with volume.
narrator: the tomahawk is a visionary weapon that has changed the face of modern warfare.
it's now impossible to think of a major military operation without the u.
s.
or the united kingdom deploying tomahawk cruise missiles.
capps: being able to deliver a 1,000-pound payload or a nuclear payload 2,500 kilometers away -- it's not really sporting, but it's awfully nice when it's you firing the tomahawks.
narrator: it's been instrumental in almost every u.
s.
engagement since the early 1990s.
the tomahawk scores high on versatility with its multi-warhead, multi-launcher capability.
its advanced guidance systems deliver maximum precision.
continual updating means no other missile can boast the tomahawk's deadly accuracy.
overall, the tomahawk earns the number-1 position.
a new era of precision warfare is dawning.
modern-day high-tech weapons are now able to deliver levels of accuracy that in the past could only be dreamed of.
there are many strong contenders for the number-1 position, but in the end, one weapon rises above all the others, epitomizing the surgical strike -- the tomahawk cruise missile.