The Guidance System

 The different Block General Characteristics The Launchers to end of page

View a video of a hitting Tomahawk.

The TOMAHAWK cruise missile is a subsonic, long-range missile, designed for precise target hits. It can be launched by surface ships (DDG 51-class, DD 963-class and CG 47-class) or by submarines (like the SSN 688 class).
Because of the low-altitude flight it's difficult to detect this missile with radar, and because of the low heat emits of the turbofan it's hard to detect it with infrared detection systems.
These missiles were used in several operations like OP Desert Storm and OP Allied Force.

The Guidance Systems

The Tomahawk has two different guidance systems. One is the TERrain COntour Matching (TERCOM) and the other one is the Digital Scene Matching Area Correlation (DSMAC) system. A stored map is used by TERCOM to compare with the actual terrain to determine the missile's current position. If necessary, a course-correction is possible.

The different Blocks

BLOCK III:
These missiles are improved ones. The first operational use was in Sept. 1995, during Deliberate Force, while service enter was in March 1993. The most important improvement is the added global positioning system (GPS). Other improvements are:
- a smaller and lighter warhead
- extended range
- Time of Arrival
and improved accuracy for low contrast matching of DSMAC.

BLOCK IV:
Phase I: These version is produced by converting bunkered TASMs (Tomahawk antiship variant) or upgrading Block II missiles to Block IV missiles. These missiles shall become the Navy's premier strike weapon.
Phase II: Possible improvements are either Brilliant Antiarmor Technology or Search 'n' Destroy Armor. An antiamor variant with a real-time targeting system for moving targets will use these improvements.

Tactical Tomahawk:
With a price of $575,000 each missile, these missiles shall cost half the estimated price of the Block IV variant. These cost savings are a result of eliminating many older internal systems and components. But the capabilities will be increased. An in-flight reprogramming to strike any of 15 preprogrammed alternate targets will as possible as looting over a target for some hours, or to assess the battle damage with the on-board TV-cameras. It will allow mission planning aboard cruisers, destroyers, and attack submarines for quick reaction GPS missions.

BLOCK V:
With a new production method it is possible to lower the costs of these missiles. Payload and guidance packages would be buyer-selectable.

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General Characteristics
Primary Function	Long-range subsonic cruise missile for attacking ground targets.
Contractor	Hughes Missile System Co., Tucson, Arizona
Power Plant	Williams International F107-WR-402 cruise turbo fan engine, solid-fuel booster
Length	18 feet, 3 inches (5.56 meters); with booster: 20 feet, 6 inches (6.25 meters)
Weight	2,650 pounds (1192.5 kg); with booster: 3,200 pounds (1440 kg)
Diameter	20.4 inches (51.82 cm)
Wingspan	8 feet, 9 inches (2.667 meters)
Range	conventional warhead: 600 nautical miles; 690.5 statue miles; 1111.2 km
Speed	about 550 mph (885 km/h)
Warheads	Conventional: 1,000 pounds, or Conventional submunitions dispenser with combined effect bomblets, or 200 kt. W-80 nuclear device
Guidance System	Internal or TERCOM
Date Deployed	1983
Costs	$500,000 Unit Cost $11,210,000,000 total progam cost
Total Program	4170 missiles
Tomahawk capable ships
Tomahawk capable launchers

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One Missile - Two Launchers:

The U.S. Navy uses or rather used two different launchers to launch the Tomahawk cruise missile: The Tomahawk Box launcher (middle image below) which is already removed from the ships and the MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) (left and right image below) which can be found aboard TICONDEROGA class guided missile cruisers, ARLEIGH BURKE class guided missile destroyers, SPRUANCE class destroyers and several future ships. The LOS ANGELES, VIRGINIA, and SEAWOLF class submarines possess vertical launcher tubes to launch the Tomahawk cruise missiles.

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