The Tomahawk has been around a long time now and is a bit long-in-the-tooth.
It is just so well designed and reliable that it seems there was no reason to go with a new design to make a ship killing cruise missile so they just upgraded the software.
I wonder if they had to upgrade the actual hardware at all?
It’s possible they are painting the targeted ships with a laser to make striking them much easier. A drone or a low orbit satellite could laser target a ship.
I got to wonder if Runssian anti-missile defenses wound have any issues with a sub sonic threat. They are not sitting ducks, would likely know this was incoming.
Tomahawk Multi Mission Mode. It was a variation that was cancelled over a decade ago. Unitary warhead, configured for either land attack or antiship. Also a longer ranger than the original antiship RGM-109B.
I doubt its laser based the issues with weather make Laser Guided weapons some what more problematic at sea.
I have not read of any orbital laser guided system. Data Link with GPS / Inertial is probably more likely. Terminal guidance by millimeter wave or other radar and or thermal/optical is fairly common.
LG weapons were the most accurate in Gulf War but the limitations made finding better solutions a priority.