Operational evaluation (Opeval) of the US Navy's Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile, better known as the Tactical Tomahawk, has begun at the Western Test Range in California in the build-up to a full-rate production decision expected in the first quarter of 2004.
The Raytheon-developed Tactical Tomahawk is being upgraded to allow for in-flight real-time re-targeting, reduced mission planning time, increased accuracy and better mission planning. Since the start of flight tests in mid-2002 the missile has accomplished firings from ground test stands, a fixed underwater launcher, penetration tests, launches from surface ships and a submarine. The final submarine launch test with a live warhead was made in July 2003 from the USS Tucson and marked the end of the technical flight-test evaluation, as well as paving the way towards Opeval.
The next phase will be a combination of missile flight tests and a series of complete end-to-end weapon system simulations, says the US Navy.
Source: Flight International
