Posted on 05/21/2010 12:29:58 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Cheyenne (SSN-773) in conjunction with Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet and members of Naval Special Warfare Group (NSWG) 3 successfully fired a Block IV-E Tomahawk Land Attack Missile. The missile launch took place off the southern coast of California into China Lake Test Range and marks the first time a forward-deployed operational command acted as the Tomahawk strike coordinator and primary missile controller for an operational test launch.
"The Navy's ability to conduct strike operations on re-locatable targets is currently very challenging," said Master Chief Fire Controlman (SW) David Brewer, U.S. 7th Fleet Tomahawk strike coordinator.
"By proving an operational commander's ability to use the Tactical Tomahawk Command and Control System's ability to receive real-time targeting coordinates and applying them to a tactical Tomahawk missile in flight will significantly improve the Navy's ability to shape the battlefield and project power from the sea, particularly, when naval surface strike is the only fires option available to the commander."
"I am proud of the work we have accomplished during this exercise," he said. "With this being the staff's first time providing real time operations in flight, the job by the entire team was exceptional. The training value gained from a live firing event has no substitute, and will absolutely improve C7F's ability to conduct actual launch operations when required.
NSWG-3 provided updated target data used by 7th Fleet to modify the missile's flight path, resulting in a destroyed target. The test launch demonstrated a complex strike capability and was a tremendous success for all involved.
"Teamwork is critical in naval fires," Brewer said. "This test launch is the ultimate use of different operational assets we provided during this exercise to achieve common goal. "
(Excerpt) Read more at spacedaily.com ...
Is that a typo? 5,000 miles! I wonder what the payload is.
If you use satellites could be true.
Just to make sure I understand it, that’s how far the controller was away, not how far the missile went, right?
Must be. The sub is described as being off the coast of So. Cal. And China Lake is in CA, so unless the sub was 4,800 miles “off the coast,” the missile clearly didn’t go anywhere near 5,000 miles.
Range: Block II TLAM-A – 1350 nautical miles (1500 statute miles.
Block III TLAM-C - 900 nautical miles (1000 statute miles.
Block III TLAM-D - 700 nautical miles (800 statute miles.
Block IV TLAM-E - 900 nautical miles (1000 statute miles.
Warhead: Block II TLAM-N – W80 nuclear warhead
Block III TLAM-C and Block IV TLAM-E - 1,000 pound class unitary warhead
Block III TLAM-D - conventional submunitions dispenser with combined effect bomblets.
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I'm thinking that what they mean is the people directing the missile were doing so from 5,000 miles away.
This has important implications if it means that a UAV in Afghanistan can designate a target for a missile fired from the Indian Ocean, with both under the control of an operator in the US.
7th Fleet, which controlled the Tomahawk, is HQ’d in Yokosuka, Japan ... which is roughly 5000 miles from the CA coast.
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