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BGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missile

Cruise Missiles — By Editor on August 13, 2005 at 3:12 pm
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The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile with stubby wings. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude aircraft that could be launched from a submerged submarine. It has been improved several times and is now made by Raytheon.

The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile with stubby wings. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude aircraft that could be launched from a submerged submarine. It has been improved several times and is now made by Raytheon.

General Info

There have been several variants, employing several kinds of warheads. The operational versions include the unitary conventional land attack TLAM-C, the bomblet-dispensing land attack TLAM-D, and nuclear land attack (TLAM-A and TLAM-N) (not deployed). There is also the Tomahawk Anti-Ship Missile (TASM). Ground Launch Cruise Missiles and their truck-like launch vehicles were destroyed to comply with the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

The Block III TLAMs that entered service in 1993 can fly farther and use Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers to strike more precisely. Block IV TLAMs have a better Digital Scene Matching Area Correlator (DSMAC) system as well as improved turbo engines. . The follow-on Block IV Phase II TLAMs have better deep-strike capabilities and are equipped with a real-time targeting system against armored moving targets.

Tactical Tomahawk

By far the biggest improvement is making the Tomahawk Network-centric warfare-capable, using data from multiple sensors (aircraft, UAVs, satellites, foot soldiers, tanks, ships) to find its target. It will also be able to send data from its sensors to these platforms. It will be a part of the networked force envisioned by the Pentagon.

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