The US Navy is studying several warhead options for future variants of the Raytheon Tactical Tomahawk land attack cruise missile, following two recent demonstration flight tests with a kinetic penetrator warhead.
Low-rate initial production of 192 Block IV Tactical Tomahawks is under way, with the first missiles due to enter service in mid-2004 armed with a 450kg (1,000lb) blast/fragmentation warhead. The USN plans an initial purchase of 1,350 missiles, but this is expected to increase to more than 2,000 to replenish stocks following the Iraq war and to allow alternative warheads to be studied.
"The navy is studying where they want to go next with Tactical Tomahawk and the penetrator is one option," says Gordon McKenzie, Raytheon business development manager Tomahawk programme. Other warhead options under consideration include combined penetrator and blast/ fragmentation, and different submunitions such as the BLU-97 combined effects bomblet and BLU-108 sensor fuzed weapon.
The two penetrator tests were funded as an advanced concept technology demonstration using modified Block IV missiles. The programme has so far included two development tests and two ship-launched operational tests.
Two more operational tests are planned, featuring the first vertical launch from a submarine next month. Operational evaluation is to begin at the end of this year and will encompass another four firings, leading to a full rate production decision by mid-2004. The first test firing of the planned torpedo tube launched version for the USN and UK Royal Navy is planned for late next year.
Source: Flight International
