Tomahawk missiles

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
Unit cost	$1.87M(FY2017) (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/) Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile that is primarily used by the United States Navy and Royal Navy in ship and submarine-based land-attack operations. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was initially designed as a medium to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a surface platform. Since then, it has been upgraded several times with guidance systems for precision navigation. It is now manufactured by Raytheon. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Defense purchased 149 Tomahawk Block IV missiles for $202.3 million.

The missile is named after the tomahawk, a one-handed axe used by the Native Americans.

There have been several variants of the BGM-109 Tomahawk employing various types of warheads.

Ground-launched cruise missiles (GLCM) and their truck-like launch vehicles were employed at bases in Europe; they were withdrawn from service to comply with the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Many of the anti-ship versions were converted into TLAMs at the end of the Cold War. The Block III TLAMs that entered service in 1993 can fly farther and use Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers to strike more precisely. Block III TLAM-Cs retain the DSMAC II navigation system, allowing GPS only missions, which allow for rapid mission planning, with some reduced accuracy, DSMAC only missions, which take longer to plan but terminal accuracy is somewhat better, and GPS aided missions which combine both DSMAC II and GPS navigation which provides the greatest accuracy. Block IV TLAMs are completely redesigned with an improved turbofan engine. The F107-402 engine provided the new BLK III with a throttle control, allowing in-flight speed changes. This engine also provided better fuel economy. The Block IV TLAMs have enhanced deep-strike capabilities and are equipped with a real-time targeting system for striking fleeing targets. Additionally, the BLOCK IV missiles have the capabilities to be re-targeted inflight, and the ability to transmit, via satcom, an image immediately prior to impact to assist in determining if the missile was attacking the target and the likely damage from the attack.