BGM-109 Tomahawk
_Missile|
name=Tomahawk cruise missile |
image=Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile.jpg |
Function=long-range, all-weather, subsonic
cruise missile | Contractor=
Raytheon/
McDonnell Douglas |
Unit_cost=$1.3 mil|
Deployment=1983 |
Engine=
Williams International F107-WR-402 turbofan and a solid-fuel booster |
Launch_mass=1440 kg |
Length=Without booster: 5.56 m
With booster: 6.25 m|
Diameter=0.52 m |
Wing_span=2.67 m|
Speed= about 880 km/h|
Range= 1100 km|
Flying_altitude=|
Warhead=Conventional: 1,000 lb (450 kg) Bullpup, or submunitions dispenser with combined effect bomblets, or a 200
kiloton of TNT (840
terajoule)
W80 nuclear device (inactivated per
SALT) |
Guidance=GPS, TERCOM, DSMAC|
Fuzes=FMU-148 since TLAM Block III, others for special applications|
Launch_platform=Vertical Launch System (VLS) and horizontal submarine torpedo tubes|
}}
The
Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic
cruise missile with stubby wings. Introduced by
General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a submerged
submarine. It has been improved several times and, by way of corporate divestitures and acquisitions, is now made by
Raytheon. Some Tomahawks were also manufactured by
McDonnell Douglas.
["McDonnell Douglas: History — New Markets," Boeing history website.]There have been several variants of the BGM-109 Tomahawk employing various types of warheads. The operational versions include the unitary conventional land attack TLAM-C, the bomblet-dispensing land attack TLAM-D, the nuclear land attack TLAM-A and TLAM-N (not deployed), and the Tomahawk Anti-Ship Missile (TASM). Ground Launch Cruise Missiles (
GLCM) and their truck-like launch vehicles were destroyed to comply with the 1987
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
The Block III TLAMs that entered service in 1993 can fly farther and use
Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers to strike more precisely. Block IV TLAMs have a better Digital Scene Matching Area Correlator (DSMAC) system as well as improved turbojet engines. The WR-402 engine provided the new BLK III with a throttle control, allowing the missile to slow down or speed up during flight. This engine also provided better fuel economy. The Block IV Phase II TLAMs have better deep-strike capabilities and are equipped with a real-time targeting system for striking moving targets.
By far the biggest improvement is making the Tomahawk
network-centric warfare-capable, using data from multiple sensors (aircraft, UAVs, satellites, foot soldiers, tanks, ships) to find its target. It will also be able to send data from its sensors to these platforms. It will be a part of the networked force envisioned by the Pentagon.
"Tactical Tomahawk" equips the TLAM with a TV-camera for battlefield observation loitering that allows warfighting commanders to assess damage to the target and to redirect the missile to an alternative target. Additionally the Tactical Tomahawk is able to be reprogrammed in-flight to attack one of 16 predesignated targets with GPS coordinates stored in its memory or to any other GPS coordinates. Also, the missile can send data about its status back to the commander. It entered service with the Navy in late 2004.
