Tomahawk Block IV Missile to Receive Anti-Surface Warfare Capability

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UNITED STATES - 5 MAY 2009

Raytheon Company has developed a technology plan to enhance moving target capabilities for the combat-proven Tomahawk Block IV missile. The technology will enable naval forces to effectively engage moving maritime surface targets and conduct anti-surface warfare missions.

"This capability will allow the warfighter to attack a new tactical target set from more than 900 nautical miles (= more than 1667 km)," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile System's Air Warfare Systems' product line. "Raytheon's technology road map is the first step toward a rapid-development effort that will deliver a single, affordable, multi-mission missile capable of land attack and anti-surface warfare operations."

The Tomahawk Block IV is a surface- and submarine-launched, precision-strike, stand-off weapon. It is designed for long-range precision strike missions against high-value and heavily defended targets.

More than 1,900 Tomahawk rounds have been fired in support of almost every conflict since 1991, and more than 1,300 Tomahawk Block IV missiles have been delivered since 2005. The Tomahawk Block IV is integrated on numerous surface and subsurface combatant platforms in the U.S. Navy and subsurface combatant vessels in the U.K. Royal Navy.


Source: Raytheon Company

 

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Tomahawk Test Demonstrates Time-Critical Use
UNITED STATES - 16 NOVEMBER 2009

WASHINGTON -- A U.S. Navy Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile was launched during an operational test Nov. 5 which demonstrated the effectiveness of the missile's new anti-jam GPS system and successful use against time-critical targets.

The Tomahawk Block IV was launched from the USS Princeton (CG-59), a Ticonderoga-class Aegis cruiser underway in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California. The missile flew a land attack mission into San Nicolas Island in support of a Special Operations team.

"This test proves that Tomahawk provides a key enabler for time-critical strike," said Tomahawk Program Manager Capt. Dave Davison. "As the only network-enabled, land attack weapon, Tomahawk can re-target, loiter, or provide last minute weapons coverage to deployed forces from on-station naval combatants."

The missile destroyed a time-critical target after receiving targeting information from a combined U.S./United Kingdom Special Operations Team on the island using the Precision Strike Suite - Special Operations Forces (PSS-SOF) and Joint Strike Planning and Execution Auto Router (JSPEAR) portable units. Live target updating was conducted from the field using these portable units and confirmation was provided by satellite and unmanned systems imagery.

The mission was initiated from JSPEAR and sent to the fleet commander and USS Princeton. Seconds after launch from the ship's vertical launch system, the Tomahawk missile transitioned to cruise flight. The total flight time was short and the test was conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Tomahawk's new eight channel anti-jam GPS receiver (AGR-4). The results of this test confirmed the ability of Tomahawk Block IV to be used in time critical strike operations to meet the requirements of U.S. Special Forces.

The Tomahawk is ship and submarine launched, and was first employed operationally during Desert Storm. The enhanced capabilities of Tomahawk Block IV increase fleet effectiveness, with network enabled communication, battle damage imaging, while at the same time significantly reducing acquisition and life cycle costs.

Tomahawk missiles are deployed throughout the world's oceans. Tomahawk operational test launches are conducted throughout the year from Navy surface ships and submarines. These tests are designed to maintain the operational readiness of the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, as well as test and prove upgrades and enhancements to the missile, platforms, or control software.

The Tomahawk program, PMA-280, is managed by the Program Executive Office, Unmanned Aviation & Strike Weapons at Patuxent River, Md. The missile is manufactured by Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Ariz. The weapon control system aboard the combatants is integrated by the Navy.

 

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Raytheon Delivers 2,000th Tomahawk Block IV Cruise Missile to U.S. Navy
UNITED STATES - 25 FEBRUARY 2010

TUCSON, Ariz., -- In a significant production milestone, Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) delivered the 2,000th Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile to the U.S. Navy.

"Tomahawk Block IV provides the Navy with a combat-proven weapon that plays a critical role in hybrid warfare operations," said Capt. Dave Davison, the U.S. Navy's program manager for the Tomahawk weapon system. "The Navy's receipt of the 2,000th Tomahawk Block IV provides the commander with a powerful tactical weapon to shape the battlespace and prosecute time-critical targets."

Tomahawk Block IV's technologies provide a tactical capability while reducing acquisition, operation and support costs. Tomahawk Block IV employs a two-way satellite datalink that enables a strike controller to flex the missile in flight to preprogrammed alternate targets or redirect it to a new target. This targeting flexibility includes the capability to loiter over the battlefield and await a more critical target.

"The Tomahawk program continues to provide the U.S. Navy with the capability to project precision firepower across the breadth and depth of the battlespace while delivering unprecedented flexibility to the commander," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon's Air Warfare Systems product line. "With the dedication of our employees and suppliers, the Tomahawk program has set the standard in cruise missile capability."


Source: Raytheon Company