Cutting Edge Tactical Tomahawk Cruise Missile Awarded $200 Million Purchase from US Navy

Video Above: Army 2-Star Describes Range Doubling, Course Correcting Artillery

By Kris Osborn – President & Editor-In-Chief, Warrior Maven

The Navy is buying 154 full rate production Block V Tactical Tomahawk cruise missiles to quickly integrate technological advances which enable the ability to track and destroy moving enemy ships while flying beneath the radar aperture of enemy missiles defense.

By traveling at lower altitudes parallel to the surface of the ocean, Tomahawk cruise missiles are engineered to elude enemy ship radar systems. The Block V Tactical Tomahawk is the most modern, cutting edge variant which introduces course correcting guidance technology enabling the weapon to adjust its trajectory quickly to strike moving targets.

The $200 million Navy deal with Raytheon allocates 70 missiles for the Navy, 54 for the Marine Corps and 30 for the Army.

Tactical Tomahawk Cruise Missile

The Tactical Tomahawk, as it is called, has been in development for many years as a key strategic Navy effort to expand the attack envelope for ship commanders. Block IV Tomahawks, which are now operational, have performed well in combat for many years. Block IVs can travel as far as 900 miles at speeds up to 500mph, using a loitering “targeting” ability and a two-day data link which enables an ISR-type capability. 

Tomahawks have often been the first weapons to fire in a number of combat engagements given their precision, stand-off range and targeting technology. However, since their inception years ago, Tomahawks have only been capable of hitting fixed targets such as buildings, command and control centers or weapons depots. They were used extensively in Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the “shock and awe” campaign to disable Iraq’s infrastructure prior to a ground invasion.