I have no issue with having to launch and get the TLAM's to the circle on the map and then survive exfiltrating as a game-play mechanic. It's giving the player a mission failure for literally something outside of their control (TLAM on target performance) that I have a problem with. I'd think something along the lines of getting to a certain area on the map, selecting fire from the status menu, and then having a bunch of hunter-killer groups converge on you in the strategic map would be a good option as well. Each their own though.

Also in CMANO it's usually the result of firing them into/through a very high density air-defense environment with no attempt at using terrain. It took me a while to get into the habit of actually planning the route, using terrain masking, etc. Once I did that, they became MUCH more effective for me.

On the other hand, if you launch your missiles from a long distance they can be picked up early by radar (especially if they're flying in a group) and the enemy will have sufficient time to scramble some jets. And I'd assume that for a flight of fighters shooting down 10 missiles is a matter of minutes, considering they fly in a straight line and relatively slow (to a supersonic fighter jet). If I were a pilot I'd even forget the missiles (TLAMS might be too small for them to intercept) and just deal with them using guns.

But if you fire them at closer range even if they are picked up by radar there's not enough time to intercept them.

Actually, you would want to launch them as far away as possible. It's not easy to shoot down a TLAM, Unless it was detected at launch and engaged right away. they will be below the radar horizon (about 28 miles given a flight altitude of 100ft and a radar height of 100ft) of any surface radar in 3 minutes and with their ability to have programmed course changes. you wouldn't even have an idea where they are headed. Even fighters with look down/shoot down radar or a Mainstay will have problem picking them up given their size and ground clutter until they are very close.

You may be right. It just seems logical to me that the longer a missile is in flight the greater the chance that it will be discovered and the more time the enemy has to prepare before it reaches its target.

TLAM are suppose to be programmed to avoid all know sensor and populated area but given Murphy's hand in everything. I'm sure there's always a chance that it could be observed by some previously unknown mobile radar or even an alert ground troop. But unlike in the game, communication is not instant, even if they manage to get a positive track, by the time they check the chart and figured out where it's headed (providing it's on the final leg). The alert may not get there in time (an army field unit probably will not have a direct communication link with the air force or navy without bouncing the alert to their regional HQ which in turn to have past the info further down the chain).