Tomahawk Surface Launched Missile

Tomahawk Surface Launched Missile. The Tomahawk is a long-range, subsonic cruise missile developed in the United States and primarily deployed by the United States Navy. It was designed as a key component of the United States Department of Defense's conventional and nuclear deep-strike arsenal, providing a highly accurate, survivable weapon system. Since its introduction during the Cold War, it has become a cornerstone of American power projection, seeing extensive combat use from the Gulf War onward.

Development and Variants

The Tomahawk's development was initiated by the United States Navy in the 1970s, with General Dynamics winning the initial contract. The program aimed to create a versatile, long-range cruise missile capable of being launched from both submarines and surface vessels. Early variants included the nuclear-armed BGM-109A Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM-N) and the anti-ship BGM-109B TASM. The conventional land-attack variant, the BGM-109C TLAM-C, became the most widely produced. Subsequent evolution, managed by Raytheon, introduced the Tactical Tomahawk (BGM-109E Block IV), which added in-flight retargeting and loitering capabilities. The latest iteration is the Maritime Strike Tomahawk (BGM-109E Block V), which reintroduced anti-ship capabilities and features enhanced navigation systems from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Design and Capabilities

The Tomahawk is a winged, jet-powered missile with a length of approximately 18 feet and a launch weight of about 2,900 pounds. It is powered by a Williams International F107 turbofan engine for cruise flight, with a Thiokol solid-fuel rocket booster for initial launch. Its airframe is designed for low-observable, terrain-hugging flight to evade enemy air defenses like the S-300 and S-400 missile system. The warhead section is modular; early models carried a W80 thermonuclear warhead or a 1,000-pound conventional unitary warhead, while modern Block IV and V missiles can be fitted with a variety of submunitions. The missile's subsonic speed and low radar cross-section make it a challenging target for systems such as the Tor missile system.

Operational History

The Tomahawk saw its first combat use during the Gulf War in 1991, where hundreds were launched from battleships and cruisers like the USS *San Jacinto* against targets in Iraq and Kuwait. It became the weapon of choice for opening strikes in subsequent conflicts, including Operation Deliberate Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the 1998 bombing of Iraq, and the NATO intervention in the Kosovo War. In the 21st century, it was used extensively during the War in Afghanistan, the Iraq War, and the 2011 military intervention in Libya. More recently, Tomahawks were launched in response to chemical weapons attacks by the Syrian Armed Forces in 2017 and 2018, striking targets like the Shayrat Airbase.

Deployment and Launch Platforms

The primary launch platforms for the surface-launched Tomahawk are the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers of the United States Navy. These vessels are equipped with the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System, which can store and fire multiple missiles. The Royal Navy also deploys the missile from its Astute-class and former Trafalgar-class attack submarines using specialized launch tubes. While the Ohio-class guided missile submarines were converted to carry large numbers of Tomahawks, the surface fleet remains the most visible and frequently deployed arm of the Tomahawk strike force, often operating in conjunction with carrier strike groups led by vessels like the USS Gerald R. Ford.

Guidance and Navigation Systems

The Tomahawk employs a sophisticated multi-stage guidance suite. Initial flight is managed by an Inertial Navigation System (INS). For mid-course correction over land, it historically used TERCOM (Terrain Contour Matching), which compared onboard radar altimeter data with pre-programmed digital maps. This was supplemented and later largely supplanted by the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Terminal guidance for precision strikes is achieved via the Digital Scene Matching Area Correlator (DSMAC), which compares a stored optical image of the target area with a real-time camera feed. Modern Block V variants feature improved navigation systems resistant to GPS jamming and enhanced data links for in-flight course updates from platforms like the Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye.

Category:Cruise missiles of the United States Category:Surface-to-surface missiles of the United States Category:General Dynamics missiles Category:Raytheon