Tactical Tomahawk First Submarine Test Launch

Navy Newsstand ^ | 7/11/2003 4:31:00 PM | Sandra Schroeder

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy’s new Tomahawk cruise missile, the Block IV, or Tactical Tomahawk, soared through yet another first this week as it was launched from Los Angeles-class submarine USS Tucson (SSN 770) July 9 in the waters of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) sea test range off the coast of southern California.

The event marked the first launch of the Tactical Tomahawk from an operational submarine launch platform.

The test demonstrated the newly-developed Block IV Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS) and the Tomahawk Command and Control System functionality, allowing the launch platform to receive an operational Block IV mission, pass it to the missile and then launch it from a submerged location. The submarine weapons control system (CCS MK2) uses TTWCS to control the Block IV missile prior to and after launch.

After receiving the control signals from the CCS MK4, the missile surged from the capsule launching system, demonstrating its operational submerged launch capability. The missile “broached” the ocean’s surface and successfully demonstrated shroud separation, rocket motor firing/separation and deployment of fins, inlet duct and wings as it transitioned to cruise flight for the 814-nautical mile mission to target impact in the NAVAIR China Lake Test Range.

The missile flawlessly navigated the assigned mission through the use of a global positioning system and digital scene matching area correlator updates. The test successfully demonstrated the unique Block IV weapon system communication capability between Tucson, tactical ground controllers and the in-flight missile.

“Our ship’s motto, ‘Team Tucson, the Tradition Continues’, is evermore true as the USS Tucson and our namesake city, Tucson, Ariz., produce a first for the U.S. Navy and our nation,” said Cmdr. William Traub, Tucson commanding officer. “The success of the Tactical Tomahawk program is only due to the dedication and teamwork of all of the men and women involved.”

This test continues the Navy’s formal government testing of the Tactical Tomahawk Weapons System from surface/sub-surface launch platforms, as the program prepares to enter final operational evaluation phase late this fall.

The Tomahawk missile is ship and submarine launched and was first employed operationally during Desert Storm. Since then, the missile has been heralded for its accuracy and lethality in numerous operations. The Tactical Tomahawk boasts several enhancements as demonstrated today, which increase warfighter effectiveness and responsiveness, while significantly reducing acquisition and life cycle costs.

The missile will become operational in the middle of 2004.

NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts.

For related news, visit the NAVAIR - Naval Air Systems Command Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/navair.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Ping!!

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[ChadGore]

Wow !

[HiJinx]

Tucson, Arizona BUMP

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Cool.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

[xm177e2]

Cheaper and better -- they're great.

[timpad]

What's the deal on this bad boy? Why is it called a Tactical Tomahawk? Can its target or flight path be altered enroute by an forward observer type?

[FreedomPoster]

I was wondering the same, and I bet your guess is correct.

[hattend]

Probably a shorter range, cheaper version of Tomahawk.

[timpad]

If so, WAY COOL!..just think, a Tomahawk guided by tactical folks in the field could follow the Odorous Ones while they drive around. As long as one of our guys could keep a laser designator on 'em, they're 'Hawk bait...

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Sorry, I should have included the caption with the picture in my original post. This explains it:

021110-N-0000X-003 China Lake, Calif. (Nov. 10, 2002) -- A Tactical "Tomahawk" Block IV cruise missile, conducts a controlled flight test over the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) western test range complex in southern California. During the second such test flight, the missile successfully completed a vertical underwater launch, flew a fully guided 780-mile course, and impacted a designated target structure as planned. The Tactical Tomahawk, the next generation of Tomahawk cruise missile, adds the capability to reprogram the missile while in-flight to strike any of 15 preprogrammed alternate targets, or redirect the missile to any Global Positioning System (GPS) target coordinates. It also will be able to loiter over a target area for some hours, and with its on-board TV camera, will allow the war fighting commanders to assess battle damage of the target, and, if necessary redirect the missile to any other target. Launched from the Navy's forward-deployed ships and submarines, Tactical Tomahawk will provide a greater flexibility to the on-scene commander. Tactical Tomahawk is scheduled to join the fleet in 2004. U.S. Navy photo. (RELEASED)

[FreedomPoster]

From here (towards the bottom of the page):
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/smart/bgm-109.htm

We have:
TacticalTomahawk would add the capability to reprogram the missile while in-flight to strike any of 15 preprogrammed alternate targets or redirect the missile to any Global Positioning System (GPS) target coordinates. It also would be able to loiter over a target area for some hours, and with its on-board TV camera, would allow the warfighting commanders to assess battle damage of the target, and, if necessary redirect the missile to any other target. Tactical Tomahawk would permit mission planning aboard cruisers, destroyers and attack submarines for quick reaction GPS missions. If approved by Congress, the next generation of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles would cost less than $575,000 each, half the estimated cost of $1.1 - 1.4 million for the currently planned Block IV model. The cost savings and increased capability comes from eliminating many older internal systems and components built into the model currently in the Fleet. In addition, streamlined production techniques and modular components would combine to lower the cost. Tactical Tomahawk is expected to reach the Fleet by 2002 if the production proposal is approved by Congress. On 27 May 1999 Raytheon was awarded a $25,829,379 undefinitized cost-plus-incentive-fee/cost-plus-fixed-fee, ceiling amount contract for the modification of the Tactical Tomahawk missile to the Tactical Tomahawk Penetrator Variant configuration as part of the Second Counter-Proliferation Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration. The Tactical Tomahawk missile will be modified to incorporate the government-furnished penetrator warhead and the hard-target smart fuze. Four Tactical Tomahawk Penetrator Variant missiles will be assembled to conduct the advanced concept technology demonstration testing. Work will be performed in Tucson AZ and is expected to be completed by March 2003.

[FreedomPoster]

Ya beat me by one minute ;-)

Good additional information in mine, and at the link.

[hattend]

Thanks!!

BTTT

[blam]

"As long as one of our guys could keep a laser designator on 'em, they're 'Hawk bait..."

Even a laser designator mounted on a Predator drone?

[SubMareener]

It is really great to see the Tomahawk get to this level of capability. Back in 1980s, this is one of the things we talked about, but didn't put in the requirements because it wasn't technically feasible at the time.

Another thing we talked about was having one Tomahawk in a flight of serveral Tomahawks with a Star-Wars style battle management computer, and advanced sensor systems. It would be designated the Flight Leader and would loiter over the target area as the rest of the flight attacked, do battle damage assessment, and direct re-attacks, or diversions. After all the other Tomahawks had attacked, the Flight Leader would find the O-Club and blow it up by exploding its remaining fuel.

[timpad]

Even a laser designator mounted on a Predator drone?
I think the Predators that carry designators also carry Hellfires as their beamriders. Don't know if those are interchangeable/interoperable.

I was thinking more of the scenario where you have a Pinhead moving around leading you to a site of particular interest. When he gets there...

[SauronOfMordor]

Even a laser designator mounted on a Predator drone?

I wonder if our spy satellites have embedded laser designators (see something you don't like in a downloaded image, click on it, satellite designates it, Tomahawk eliminates it)