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The Tomahawk missile first joined the US Navy fleet in 1983 and following multiple recertifications,
has continued to be an integral weapon for ship and submarine-based land-attack operations.
Although it has been frequently employed since its creation, the Tomahawk missile is most
notable for its use in the Persian Wars.
Tomahawk Missile’s Feature Some Incredible Capabilities
Priced at approximately $1 million apiece, the Tomahawk missile packs a major punch.
It can reach a speed of up to 550 miles per hour, reach a distance of 700 to 1350 nautical
miles depending on which variant of the missile is fired, and successfully reach its target
even in heavily defended air space.
The missile can carry 160 bomblets, a 1,000-pound conventional warhead, or a W80 nuclear warhead.
Using GPS, inertial navigation, and terrain contour matching, the Tomahawk has the ability
to hit within ten yards of its intended target.
It can also perform evasive maneuvers at extremely low altitudes, allowing it to take out diverse
targets and do so without causing much collateral damage.
Tomahawk Missiles are built for Mods
The physical look of the weapon is intended to resemble a “flying torpedo”, which
it does nicely.
The look of the missile has remained pretty much the same since its beginning.
The slim design allows the missile to be compatible with vertical launchers on surface warships
as well as torpedo tubes on submarines.
The overall shelf life of the missile is 30 years and requires recertification at the
time of expiration.
Recertification allows ample opportunity to apply modifications to the missile that increase
its lethality while also ensuring that the missile is still ready for combat.
The Tomahawk missile was built with a modular design, which makes internal modifications
and upgrades relatively simple.
Specifications that work efficiently can remain in the missile, while specifications that
need to be replaced are done so without affecting the rest of the internal makeup of the missile.
Block Va/Vb
Block Va allows this variant of the Tomahawk to strike moving targets at sea.
It has a new seeker that is capable of accurately identifying and targeting warships as far
as 1,000 miles away.
This variant brings the US Navy up to speed with Russian and Chinese adversaries that
were already equipped with long-range anti-ship munitions.
Block Vb has a joint multi-effects warhead that allows the Tomahawk to hit more diverse
land targets.
It is a hard-target kill variant that is capable of destroying densely-constructed enemy assets
which previously would have required more specialized munitions.
International interest
Beyond its use by the US, the Tomahawk missile has also been used by the United Kingdom’s
Royal Navy in a number of operations, and now all Royal Navy fleet submarines are Tomahawk
missile capable.
Additionally, there had previously been expressed interest in acquiring the missile by countries
like Spain, the Netherlands, Canada, and Australia, though many had not followed through with
their orders.
The U.S. Navy is now producing a first-of-its-kind next-generation Tomahawk missile able to fire
from Navy ships and destroy moving targets at sea, a new variant of the combat-tried
cruise missile bringing another dimension to maritime warfare.
It is called the Tactical Tomahawk, a newly configured Tomahawk missile with adjusted
software, radio-throughput, and guidance technology enabling it to adjust course in flight to
an unprecedented degree.
The Tactical Tomahawk, in development now for several years, greatly expands the attack
envelope for the cruise missile which has historically been largely restricted to attacking
fixed land targets such as enemy bunkers, command and control centers, or other high-value
enemy locations.
Due in large measure to its precision, two-way data link, and 900 nautical mile range, Tomahawks
have long been a “first-to-strike” weapon of war given that they not only bring a standoff
ability but can also fire from submarines as well as surface ships.
The $145 million Navy deal with Raytheon called for “production and delivery of 90 full-rate
production Lot 17 Block V Tactical Tomahawk All Up Round Vertical Launch System missiles,
including related hardware and services for the Navy.”
Built to counter Soviet air defenses years ago, Tomahawks often fly parallel to the surface
of the ocean to elude enemy radar.
The combat success of the Tomahawk, and the Army’s need for ground-based fires at longer
ranges, have inspired what is now an emerging land-launched Tomahawk variant to enter service
in the next year or two.
Described in part as a post-INF Treaty weapon, meaning one now emerging following the Russian
violation of the medium-range missile agreement, the land Tomahawk could likely target enemy
air defenses and offer new supportive fires to advancing armored units moving to contact
with an enemy.
The current Tomahawk is built with a “loiter” ability allowing it to hover near a target
until there is an optimal time to strike.
As part of this technology, the missile uses a two-way data link and camera to send back
images of a target to a command center before it strikes.
Tomahawks have been upgraded several times over their years of service.
The Block IV Tomahawk, in service since 2004, includes a two-way data link for in-flight
retargeting, terrain navigation, digital scene-matching cameras, and a high-grade inertial navigation
system, Raytheon officials said.
The current Block IV Tomahawk missile continues to receive upgrades, including added abilities
to conduct battle damage assessments and a new, more explosive warhead option for commanders
seeking alternative blast effects.
As part of this, Raytheon and the Navy have been developing a new payload for the weapon
involving a more-penetrating warhead called the Joint Multiple Effects Warhead System,
or JMEWS.
The JMEWS gives the Tomahawk better bunker buster-type effects, improving its ability
to penetrate hardened structures like concrete and reach greater depths if needed.
The weapons have been used for decades in combat.
Roughly 800 Tomahawks were fired in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and about 200 were used
in Desert Storm, Raytheon officials said.
More than 200 Tomahawks were fired in allied action in Libya in 2011.
Tomahawk missiles weigh 3,500 pounds with a booster and can travel at subsonic speeds
up to 550 miles per hour at ranges greater than 900 nautical miles.
They are just over 18-feet long and have an 8-foot, 9-inch wingspan.