Tomahawk (missile)
Long-range, subsonic cruise missile / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Tomahawk (/ˈtɒməhɔːk/) Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is a long-range, all-weather, jet-powered, subsonic cruise missile that is primarily used by the United States Navy and Royal Navy in ship and submarine-based land-attack operations.
| Tomahawk | |
|---|---|
 A BGM-109 Tomahawk flying in November 2002 | |
| Type | Cruise missile Anti-ship missile[1] (Block V & TASM variants) Submarine-launched cruise missile Land-attack missile Surface-to-surface missile[2] |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1983–present |
| Used by |  United States Navy Royal Navy Royal Australian Navy (planned) |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | General Dynamics (initially) McDonnell Douglas Hughes Aircraft Corporation Raytheon Missiles & Defense |
| Unit cost | |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 2,900 lb (1,300 kg), 3,500 lb (1,600 kg) with booster |
| Length |
|
| Diameter | 20.4 in (0.52 m) |
| Wingspan | 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m) |
| Warhead | Nuclear: W80 warhead (yield 5 to 150 kilotonnes of TNT (21 to 628 TJ)) (retired)[6] Conventional: 1,000 pounds (450 kg) high explosive or submunition dispenser with BLU-97/B Combined Effects Bomb or PBXN |
Detonation mechanism | FMU-148 since TLAM Block III, others for special applications |
| Engine | Williams International F107-WR-402 turbofan using TH-dimer fuel and a solid-fuel rocket booster |
Operational range | Block II TLAM-N – 1,350 nmi (1,550 mi; 2,500 km) Block III TLAM-C, Block IV TLAM-E – 900 nmi (1,000 mi; 1,700 km) Block Vb - 900+nmi, 1035+ miles, 1666+ km (exact range is classified)[8] RGM/UGM-109B TASM - 250 miles, 460 km[9] |
| Flight altitude | 98–164 ft (30–50 m) AGL[10] |
| Maximum speed | Subsonic; ~Mach 0.74. about 567.7 mph (493.3 kn; 913.6 km/h) |
Guidance system | GPS, INS, TERCOM, DSMAC, active radar homing (RGM/UGM-109B) |
Launch platform | Mark 41 Vertical Launching System Torpedo tubes Surface ships Submarines TELs |
Developed at the Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University under James H. Walker near Laurel, Maryland, the Tomahawk emerged in the 1970s as a modular cruise missile first manufactured by General Dynamics. The Tomahawk aimed to fulfill the need for a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile with diverse capabilities. Its modular design allows for compatibility with a range of warheads, including high-explosive, submunitions, and bunker-busters. The Tomahawk can utilize a variety of guidance systems, including GPS, inertial navigation, and terrain contour matching. Over a dozen variants and upgraded versions have been developed since the original design, including air-, sub-, and ground-launched configurations with both conventional and nuclear armaments. The Tomahawk's manufacturing history has seen several transitions. General Dynamics served as the sole supplier in the 1970s. From 1992 until 1994, McDonnell Douglas was the sole supplier of Tomahawks, producing Block II and Block III versions and remanufacturing many Tomahawks to Block III specifications.[11] In 1994, Hughes Aircraft, having purchased General Dynamics' missile division in 1992, outbid McDonnell Douglas to become the sole supplier of Tomahawks.[12][13] A joint venture between Hughes and Raytheon manufactured the missile from 1995 until Raytheon's acquisition of Hughes in 1997, solidifying their position as the sole supplier.[14][15] In 2016, the U.S. Department of Defense purchased 149 Tomahawk Block IV missiles for $202.3 million.[3] As of 2019, Raytheon remains the sole manufacturer of non-nuclear, sea-launched Tomahawk variants.[16]