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Tomahawk Block IV makes early operational entrance

By Richard Scott

4/8/2008

The UK Royal Navy (RN) has declared the submarine-launched Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile operational three months ahead of its original programme schedule.

HMS Torbay, a Trafalgar-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), is the first UK submarine to be equipped with the torpedo tube launch (TTL) Block IV missile.

Originally conceived as the Tactical Tomahawk, the Block IV version has been developed by Raytheon Missile Systems and the US Navy (USN) to meet requirements for a more affordable all-up round that at the same time provides a more responsive and flexible capability than the earlier Block III round.

Offering a range significantly beyond the 1,000 n miles of the Block III, and enhanced tactical flexibility through the addition of a two-way UHF satellite communication link, it can be retargeted in flight so as to strike time-critical targets.

It is also a far simpler, value-engineered missile design. The airframe is significantly lighter, a new turbojet powerplant is introduced and the guidance and navigation hardware package has been rationalised.

Image: A first successful UK test of Tomahawk Block IV was performed in June 2007 (UK Royal Navy) 169 of 466 words

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Tomahawk Block IV
Tomahawk Block IV(UK Royal Navy)

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