Tomahawk (missile)

Tomahawk
A BGM-109 Tomahawk flying in November 2002
Type	Long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1983–present
Used by	United States Navy Royal Navy
Production history
Manufacturer	General Dynamics (initially) Raytheon/McDonnell Douglas
Unit cost	US$1.59m(FY2014) (Block IV)
Specifications
Weight	2,900 lb (1,300 kg), 3,500 lb (1,600 kg) with booster
Length	Without booster: 18 ft 3 in (5.56 m) With booster: 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m)
Diameter	20.4 in (0.52 m)
Warhead	Nuclear: W80 warhead (retired) Conventional: 1,000 pounds (450 kg) High explosive or Submunitions dispenser with BLU-97/B Combined Effects Bomb or PBXN
Detonation mechanism	FMU-148 since TLAM Block III, others for special applications
Engine	Williams International F107-WR-402 turbofan using TH-dimer fuel and a solid-fuel rocket booster
Wingspan	8 ft 9 in (2.67 m)
Operational range	Block II TLAM-A – 1,350 nmi (1,550 mi; 2,500 km) Block III TLAM-C, Block IV TLAM-E – 900 nmi (1,000 mi; 1,700 km) Block III TLAM-D – 700 nmi (810 mi; 1,300 km)
Speed	Subsonic; about 550 mph (890 km/h)
Guidance system	GPS, INS, TERCOM, DSMAC, active radar homing (RGM/UGM-109B)
Launch platform	Vertical Launch System (VLS) and horizontal submarine torpedo tubes (known as TTL (torpedo tube launch))

Without booster: 18 ft 3 in (5.56 m)

Block II TLAM-A – 1,350 nmi (1,550 mi; 2,500 km) Block III TLAM-C, Block IV TLAM-E – 900 nmi (1,000 mi; 1,700 km)

The Tomahawk (US /ˈtɑːməhɔːk/ or UK /ˈtɒməhɔːk/) is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile named after the Native American axe. Introduced by McDonnell Douglas in the 1970s, it was initially designed as a medium to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a surface platform. It has been improved several times, and after corporate divestitures and acquisitions, is now made by Raytheon. Some Tomahawks were also manufactured by General Dynamics (now Boeing Defense, Space & Security).

The Tomahawk missile family consists of a number of subsonic, jet engine-powered missiles designed to attack a variety of surface targets. Although a number of launch platforms have been deployed or envisaged, only sea (both surface ship and submarine) launched variants are currently in service. Tomahawk has a modular design, allowing a wide variety of warhead, guidance, and range capabilities. The Tomahawk project was originally awarded to Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland by the US Navy. James H. Walker (ME Kansas State 1942) led a team of scientists to design and build this new long range missile. The original design with advanced technology is still used today.