Tomahawk missiles have been further modified to hit “moving-targets,”
by Kris Osborn, Warrior
There are a large number of US weapons systems and platforms which have defied expectations and extended their service for decades beyond what was initially anticipated.
1980s platforms such as the F-15E fighter jet, Abrams tank or Patriot missile have become almost entirely new weapons systems over the course of many years through a wide-ranging array of upgrades. What began as a rudimentary “SCUD” killing interceptor in the Gulf War has evolved into a system which can now simultaneously track and destroy maneuvering cruise missiles with precision targeting.
Today’s Abrams tank and the tank from the Big 5 in the 1980s may have a similar chassis or frame to some extent, yet they are almost completely different vehicles; today’s Abrams now has 3rd-Generation FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed) sensors, an ammunition data link, active protection, AI-enabled sensing and computing and a new generation of 120mm rounds. The 1980s-era F-15 now flies with Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and a cutting edge computer processor able to complete 87 billion functions per second.
Tomahawk Missiles Still Relevant
What about the famous Tomahawk? The weapon has been central to US Navy attack for decades, as it has often been the first weapon used in an opening salvo or military campaign against an adversary. Beginning in the 1980s and first used in the Gulf War, the Tomahawk missile was initially intended to attack fixed sites and infrastructure such as command and control headquarters buildings, troop locations or weapons storage. The attack ability of the Tomahawk has been successful for decades in this capacity, as the weapon can travel up to 900 miles at speeds up to 550 mph. Tomahawk missiles also proved effective in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria, and the weapon has been massively upgraded to maintain relevance.
Block IV Tomahawk missiles, which emerged in 2006, introduced previously unprecedented technical capabilities as it is built with a two-way data link enabling the weapon to send-back information and change targets or update course in-flight. The Block IV weapons were able to be pre-programmed with up to 15 potential targets and adjusted as needed in the event new information arrives or circumstances change. The weapon could loiter above targets, conduct battle damage assessments and function with a drone-like ISR capacity to transmit combat-relevant data while in flight.
Tactical Tomahawk
Since this time, Tomahawk missiles have been further modified to hit “moving-targets,” a massive breakthrough attack capability made possible using advanced radio-throughput. The guidance systems and sensors built into the weapon are able to respond quickly to new and changing information and adjust course as needed to track and destroy moving targets. This means the Tomahawk is no longer purely intended for use against fixed targets on land but can also destroy moving ships at sea. This upgrade ensures the Tomahawk is and will remain relevant for years into the future, given its range and versatility.
The Tomahawk has also been integrated with a new, more explosive, fragmenting Joint Multi-Effects Warhead System (JMEWS) enabling a wider range of blast effect possibilities on target.
These upgrades and the continued successful use of Tomahawks in combat, would suggest that the weapon has remained relevant, effective and viable for years beyond what may have been expected in the 1980s. Much like the F-15, Abrams tank and Patriot missile, the Tomahawk has kept pace with technological change and maintained a high-degree of strategic and tactical relevance for years beyond what was initially planned.
It may not be clear just how much longer the Tomahawk will operate, given the arrival of higher-speed weapons and paradigm-changing technologies such as hypersonic missiles. There will still be a critical role for the Tomahawk to perform, yet it will likely be supplemented by newer, faster and more technologically advanced weapons such as the US Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic missile slated to arrive by 2028.
Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University