BGM-109
Tomahawk
Unofficial
names/slang: n/a
Function:
Long-range subsonic cruise missile
Date
deployed: 1986
Contractor:
Raytheon
Unit cost:
approx. $600,000
Length:
18' - 3" (20' - 6" w/ booster)
Wingspan:
8' - 9"
Diameter:
20.5"
Speed:
approx. 550 mph
Weight at
launch: 2,900 lbs (3,500 lbs w/ booster)
Guidance:
TERCOM, DSMAC, and GPS (Block III only)
Range:
approx. 1000 mi
Engine:
Williams
International F107-WR-402 turbo-fan engine; CSD/ARC
solid-fuel booster
Warhead:
1,000 pounds or conventional submunitions dispenser
with combined effect bomblets. |
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Description:
Long range, subsonic cruise missile used for land
attack warfare, launched from surface ships and
submarines.
Features: Tomahawk® Block II uses a
Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) and Digital Scene
Matching Area Correlation (DSMAC) missile guidance
system. Block III adds a Global Positioning
Satellite guidance capability to TERCOM and DSMAC.
Radar detection of the missile is extremely
difficult because of the small radar cross-section
and low altitude.
Tomahawk® has two warhead configurations:
a 1,000-lb. blast/fragmentary unitary warhead and a
general-purpose submunition dispenser with combined
effect bomblets. Because of its long range,
lethality, and extreme accuracy Tomahawk® has
become the weapon of choice for the U.S. Department
of Defense. The capabilities of the future Tomahawk®,
Block IV or Tactical Tomahawk®, will include
battle damage assessment, in flight retargeting, and
mission planning from the launch platform. With
added capabilities Tactical Tomahawk® will carry
on the superior tradition of its predecessor into
the 21st Century. It is projected to enter service
in 2003.
Background: Tomahawk® cruise
missiles are designed to fly at extremely low
altitudes at high subsonic speeds, and are piloted
over an evasive route by several mission tailored
guidance systems. The first operational use was in
Operation Desert Storm, 1991, with immense success.
The missile has since been successfully used in
several other conflicts. In 1995 the governments of
the United States and United Kingdom signed a
Foreign Military Sales Agreement for the acquisition
of 65 missiles, marking the first sale of Tomahawk®
to a foreign country. After a November 1998 launch
and live warhead test, the U.K. declared operational
capability.
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