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| Press Release Number: EPEOW200307091 | 09-Jul-03 |
Tactical Tomahawk First Submarine Test Launch |
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| The U.S. Navy's new Tomahawk cruise missile, Block IV or Tactical Tomahawk, soared through yet another first today as it was launched from an Los Angeles Class submarine, the USS TUCSON (SSN-770), in the waters of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) sea test range off the coast of southern California. Today's event marked the first launch of the Tactical Tomahawk from an operational submarine launch platform. Today's test demonstrated the newly developed Block IV Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS) and the Tomahawk Command and Control System (TC2S) functionality allowing the launch platform to receive an operational Block IV mission, pass it to the missile and then launch it from a submerged location. The submarine weapons control system (CCS MK2) uses TTWCS to control the Block IV missile prior to and after launch. After receiving the control signals from the CCS MK4, the missile surged from the capsule launching system demonstrating its operational submerged launch capability. The missile "broached" the ocean's surface and successfully demonstrated shroud separation, rocket motor firing/separation and deployment of fins, inlet duct and wings as it transitioned to cruise flight for the 814 nautical mile mission to target impact in the NAVAIR China Lake Test Range. The missile flawlessly navigated the assigned mission through the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) and Digital Scene Matching Area Correlator (DSMAC) updates. The test successfully demonstrated the unique Block IV weapon system communication capability between the USS TUCSON, tactical ground controllers and the in-flight missile. "Our ship's motto, 'Team Tucson, the Tradition Continues', is evermore true as the USS Tucson and our namesake city, Tucson, Ariz., produce a first for the U.S. Navy and our Nation," said Cdr. William Traub, USS Tucson commanding officer. "The success of the Tactical Tomahawk program is only due to the dedication and teamwork of all of the men and women involved." This test continues the Navy's formal government testing of the Tactical Tomahawk Weapons System from surface/sub-surface launch platforms, as the program prepares to enter final operational evaluation phase late this fall. The Tomahawk missile is ship and submarine launched, and was first employed operationally during Desert Storm. Since then, the missile has been heralded for its accuracy and lethality in numerous operations. The Tactical Tomahawk boasts several enhancements as demonstrated today, which increase warfighter effectiveness and responsiveness, while significantly reducing acquisition and life cycle costs. The missile will become operational in the middle of 2004. The Tomahawk program is managed by the Program Executive Office, Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation (PEO(W)) co-located at the NAVAIR complex in Patuxent River, Maryland. The missile is manufactured by Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Ariz. As in all Tomahawk flight tests, air route safety was carefully planned in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). For safety purposes, the Tactical Tomahawk could have been guided by commands from safety chase aircraft. Tomahawk is a registered trademark of the United States Navy. NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch and recovery; from sensor data to precision targeting and real-time communications; from aircraft and weapons development to successful deployment and sustainment; NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter. |
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