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Destroyer USS Milius Launches Tomahawk IV in West Coast Test

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061212-02
Release Date: 12/12/2006 7:49:00 AM

By Sandra Schroeder, Naval Air Systems Command Public Affairs

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (NNS) -- A U.S. Navy Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile was launched Dec. 6 from USS Milius (DDG-69), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer underway in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern California.

The missile flew a land attack mission, launching from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) sea range.

Seconds after launch from the ship's vertical launch system the Tomahawk missile moved to cruise flight, and flew a fully guided 755 nautical mile test flight. Using global positioning satellite and digital scene matching area correlator navigation, it flew to a target site on the NAVAIR land range.

This marked the first Tomahawk IV launch from Milius.

“Milius is honored to have the opportunity to conduct the [missile] firing," said Cmdr. E. Hernandez, Commanding Officer, USS Milius. I have full confidence in my strike team. This is the type of challenge they love to take on. We look forward to helping advance the next generation of land attack weaponry,”

The test also successfully demonstrated the Tomahawk Strike Network (TSN), a unique aspect of the Block IV system. It is a communications network that provides secure connectivity among the Block IV missile, the strike controller, and the missile controller. TSN allows the strike controller to retarget the missile in flight, monitor the health and status of the missile in flight, and collect images along the route.

The Tomahawk is both ship and submarine launched, and was first employed operationally during Operation Desert Storm. Since then, the missile has been heralded for its accuracy and lethality. The enhanced capabilities of Tomahawk Block IV increase fleet effectiveness, while significantly reducing acquisition and life cycle costs.

"Today's successful test event shows that the Baseline IV Tomahawk Weapon System will maintain the legacy of weapon effectiveness that Tomahawk has demonstrated in every major conflict from Desert Storm through Operation Iraqi Freedom,” said Capt. Rick McQueen, U.S. Navy Tomahawk program manager.

Tomahawk missiles are deployed throughout the world's oceans on numerous surface ships and submarines, including AEGIS-class cruisers, guided missile destroyers, along with Seawolf- and Los Angeles-class submarines.

Tomahawk operational test launches are conducted throughout the year, from Navy surface ships and submarines. These tests are designed to maintain the operational prowess and readiness of the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, test and prove upgrades and enhancements to the missile, platforms, or control software.

As in all Tomahawk flight tests, air route safety was carefully planned in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration. For safety purposes, the Tomahawk could have been guided by commands from safety chase aircraft.