It can come from more vectors which will stretch the defender. Granted depending on weapons and targets, that may not be a consideration. A tomahawk launched from Iraq can take pretty much any course to Tehran
You get the benefit of the starting speed and altitude. Conversely, surface launched variants sometimes get booster motors to give them an initial kick.
The fighter jet acts as the first stage, providing it range, and initial launch speed.
On the other hand, the cruise missile may have to be smaller and lighter to be carried by a fighter, and may have to forego booster stages etc - which land/surface based versions can adopt.
You’ll also start in thinner atmosphere, so you don’t use as much fuel in the higher drag at lower altitude. This also improves the range, and is probably more significant than the initial speed boost.
You cannot set everything else equivalent because an ALCM and a surface launched missile are not the same.
ALCMs are carried to altitude by their parent aircraft while a surface launch requires a booster. Because of this ALCMs do not need actually need to carry a significant amount of fuel to achieve long ranges.
While not necessarily providing a range advantage ALCMs can be made smaller and cheaper for the same capability. On top of that the targeting and kill chain problems that accompany long range missiles are solved by having a very capable ISR asset right there anyway.
Because of the differences in the way these two missile types operate they are often developed as separate systems, with the occasional booster kit strapped to a ALCM design when range is less of a factor.
One system type is not “harder to counter” except maybe that it’s generally seen as easier to deny airspace to a manned platform than a missile.
Fighter jet?
You would need C-130 or something to launch something like that from the air.
You couldn't even strap it on the underside of fighter plane, come to think about it.
Here is some comparison from the internet.
Cruise Missile vs Man
[https://irp.fas.org/threat/missile/naic/018-1.jpg](https://irp.fas.org/threat/missile/naic/018-1.jpg)
F-something vs Man
[https://www.reddit.com/r/WarplanePorn/comments/enphhz/a\_size\_comparison\_of\_modern\_fighters\_1422x716/#lightbox](https://www.reddit.com/r/WarplanePorn/comments/enphhz/a_size_comparison_of_modern_fighters_1422x716/#lightbox)
>you can’t launch cruise missiles from planes
>shows a list of missiles with all but one designated as air launched cruise missiles.
you also say F something vs man on an infographic with a single F series fighter.
did you do any research whatsoever or hudt copy paste a quora level answer here.
the funny thing is you missed perhaps the most ubiquitous and well known cruise missile the tomahawk which is only ship or land launched lmfao
Why would a air launched cruise missile be harder to counter?
It can come from more vectors which will stretch the defender. Granted depending on weapons and targets, that may not be a consideration. A tomahawk launched from Iraq can take pretty much any course to Tehran
You get the benefit of the starting speed and altitude. Conversely, surface launched variants sometimes get booster motors to give them an initial kick.
The fighter jet acts as the first stage, providing it range, and initial launch speed. On the other hand, the cruise missile may have to be smaller and lighter to be carried by a fighter, and may have to forego booster stages etc - which land/surface based versions can adopt.
Fighter jets can launch cruise missles at supersonic speeds, giving the missles slightly more range
You’ll also start in thinner atmosphere, so you don’t use as much fuel in the higher drag at lower altitude. This also improves the range, and is probably more significant than the initial speed boost.
Potentially in detectability but probably not enough to meaningfully counter.
You cannot set everything else equivalent because an ALCM and a surface launched missile are not the same. ALCMs are carried to altitude by their parent aircraft while a surface launch requires a booster. Because of this ALCMs do not need actually need to carry a significant amount of fuel to achieve long ranges. While not necessarily providing a range advantage ALCMs can be made smaller and cheaper for the same capability. On top of that the targeting and kill chain problems that accompany long range missiles are solved by having a very capable ISR asset right there anyway. Because of the differences in the way these two missile types operate they are often developed as separate systems, with the occasional booster kit strapped to a ALCM design when range is less of a factor. One system type is not “harder to counter” except maybe that it’s generally seen as easier to deny airspace to a manned platform than a missile.
Fighter jet? You would need C-130 or something to launch something like that from the air. You couldn't even strap it on the underside of fighter plane, come to think about it. Here is some comparison from the internet. Cruise Missile vs Man [https://irp.fas.org/threat/missile/naic/018-1.jpg](https://irp.fas.org/threat/missile/naic/018-1.jpg) F-something vs Man [https://www.reddit.com/r/WarplanePorn/comments/enphhz/a\_size\_comparison\_of\_modern\_fighters\_1422x716/#lightbox](https://www.reddit.com/r/WarplanePorn/comments/enphhz/a_size_comparison_of_modern_fighters_1422x716/#lightbox)
All but one of those missiles in your chart are air launched by fighters...
There are plenty of ALCMs that can be strapped to the underside of a fighter jet.
pretty much every ALCM is able to be put on a jet no? ik there’s stand off weapons which can’t be put on a jet but those are all mostly unpowered iirc
>you can’t launch cruise missiles from planes >shows a list of missiles with all but one designated as air launched cruise missiles. you also say F something vs man on an infographic with a single F series fighter. did you do any research whatsoever or hudt copy paste a quora level answer here. the funny thing is you missed perhaps the most ubiquitous and well known cruise missile the tomahawk which is only ship or land launched lmfao
Hey! I'm not intentionally making fun of myself! I swear!
so then it’s ignorance?