Cruise missiles have been increasingly used and are in the process of unabated spread. While the major powers have used this Big Stick conveniently in increasing numbers, the developing countries find in the them the poor man's arsenal. This study is an endeavour to define various contours of cruise missiles and their evolution which now seem moving towards a matured stage. It identifies the trend and nuances of cruise missile spread by enquiring the utility motive and future of them in different strategic scenarios. While visulising cruise missiles as the weapons of the future the book suggest for a joint approach of cruise missile control and defence to contain their spread and to manage the threat.