The report is a half-truth, because it omits how the Tomahawk has a proposed successor, the Cruise Missile XR (Extended Range). The Russians are marketing increasingly effective anti-cruise missile systems, and the Tomahawk was not suitable for striking moving targets. The new Cruise Missile XR (Extended Range) offers stealth capabilities, the ability to strike moving targets, and other improvements challenging the Russian anti-cruise missile systems.
The Hellfire has long been under consideraton for phasing out as proposed replacements were developed and scheduled for appropriations that were subsequently canceled for budgetary reasons. The latest proposed replacement for the Hellfire is the Joint Air to Ground Missile (JAGM).
The retirement of the Tomahawk and Hellfire missiles after long service is to be expected sooner or later, so the real question is whether or not the Obama Administration is going to proved adequate and timely funding for effective replacement missile systems?
“so the real question is whether or not the Obama Administration is going to proved adequate and timely funding for effective replacement missile systems?”
Is it a real question or a foregone conclusion to the negative? I am know how I’d bet.
Thanks for posting “the rest of the story”. I started to go check facts but decided to skim comments first.
I had heard a few years ago that the Tomahawk cruise missile was becoming obsolete as a result of America’s (and by proxy the world’s) missile defense systems. The Tomahawk is a subsonic, straight flying, precision munition. It flies low and follows ground contour, which initially made it difficult to shoot down. Today, as I understand it, they can be detected and taken out with heat seeking munitions. It stands to reason we have more capable weapons today.
The real questions is, are we funding and manufacturing the replacements or are we going back to sticks and stones?
Isn't that the big argument about the F-35? Base a large strategic decision on something that hasn't proven itself yet?
They didn’t replace the space shuttle, now we are dependent on a hostile Russia to place and retrieve our astronauts. I doubt we can expect anything different this time.