CITY SUB FIRES NEW HI-TECH MISSILE (Tomahawk Missile Test off US Coast - Video)

The Herald Voice of Plymouth ^ | Tuesday, July 3, 2007 | Herald Staff

[fight_truth_decay]

A new hi-tech long-range land attack missile has been successfully fired by a Devonport-based submarine.

The new 'smart' Block IV Tomahawk missile was fired during a live firing trial off the US coast.

The 5,200 tonne attack submarine HMS Trenchant used one of her torpedo tubes to launch the missile, which then flew over the Gulf of Mexico, striking a target hundreds of miles away with pin-point accuracy.

During the 60-minute test fight the missile reached heights of 10,000 feet and speeds of 500 miles an hour.

The enhanced weapon will improve the long-range precision capability of the Royal Navy as it is linked to satellite communication systems.

With up to a third greater range than the current missiles, they can hit targets more than 1,000 miles away, can be re-targeted in flight and even send back images of the battlefield to boost intelligence gathering.

Lord Drayson, Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support, said today:

"I'm delighted to announce that this vital trial of the new TLAM Block IV missile has been a great success.

"These conventionally armed land attack missiles are the most advanced of their type in the world - able to fly further and strike targets with even greater precision.

"They also incorporate the latest computer technology, giving them the ability to retarget or abort missions in flight and to take their own images of the battlefield."

He added: "This test is a very significant milestone which gives a tangible demonstration of our ability to deliver precision attack at long range against selected targets.

"They will give the Royal Navy a world class capability and the ability to pre-position the missile covertly in our attack submarines gives enormous flexibility to our forces."

The missile system is due to enter service with the Royal Navy in 2008 and will be used to equip the RN's existing attack submarines and the new Astute class.

The Ministry of Defence bought 64 of the all-weather missiles from the United States Government under a £70million contract four years ago.

The unique capability is the result of close co-operation with the US with the UK the only nation outside the US to have the Tomahawk Block IV.

The missiles will be capable of being fired from the Royal Navy's current Trafalgar Class submarines as well as from the new Astute Class submarines when they enter service.

UK firms are playing key roles in providing electronic and submarine upgrades.

[fight_truth_decay]

Breitbart.tv reports the Devonport submarine HMS:
"Trenchant test fires a new "smart" Tomahawk missile off the coast of the United States with Video

"Impressive. Apparently this new Block IV version can be reprogrammed in flight with either a new target or a an entirely new mission - which I always found was the problem with Big Trak, once you programmed it, off it went. Of course, Big Trak also couldn't deliver a nuclear payload or reach speeds of 500mph. Also didn't cost £1million a pop.--comments a reader-- MrEos, Plymouth,UK"

Raytheon's Tomahawk Block IV Tactical Cruise Missile (TLAM)

[PatriotCJC]

I taught Tomahawh WCS for many years. What a great weapon!

I Heart Tomahawk!!!!

[68skylark]

That's a cool video -- thanks for the link. The groovy soundtrack adds a lot.

I wish the U.S. military put out better photos and videos. Maybe they do and I just don't know where to look. But when I come to FR, it seems like our allies (Poland, the UK, and even Australia) have better public affairs products than the U.S.

[Jeff Head]

The US Navy has a good site:

US NAVY: Eye on the Fleet - Featured Galleries

Thousands of really great photos there. I suggest browsing the galleries in the "8-up" mode.

[RDTF]

“can be re-targeted in flight”

This is great, Tactical Tomahawk finally coming to fruition. I also think it can hover somehow too.

[Constantine XI Palaeologus]

I must admit that I don’t know how cruise missiles in general are supposed to work. Seems to me that something like C-RAM, Skyshield and whatever’s the Russian/Chicom equivalent (land Kashtan?)would make short work of it due to its straightforward trajectory and for a cheap price relative to the expense of Tomahawks.