Posted on 03/05/2010 8:54:45 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The U.S. Navy has now received 2000 of the new Tomahawk (BGM-109) Block 4 missiles, since production began five years ago. The Block 4s cost about $1.7 million each. The missile weighs 1.4 tons, has a range of 1,500 kilometers and carries a half ton warhead. It moves to its target at a speed of 880 kilometers an hour. The original Tomahawk was introduced 26 years ago, and nearly 7,000 have been manufactured. The U.S. Navy has fired nearly 2,000 in combat and training. The Block 4s are also getting upgraded so that they can hit moving targets. This is mainly intended to turn the Tomahawk into an anti-ship missile, although it can also hit moving land targets. The Tomahawk has been a primary land attack weapon for surface ships and submarines since the 1990s. The Block 3 entered service in 1994, but the Block 4 was a big upgrade, adding GPS and the ability to go after a different target while the missile was in flight.
(Excerpt) Read more at strategypage.com ...
1.7 million ea. Launch a mansion to take out a target.
But it can deliver one heck of a punch using both conventional and nuclear warheads
Not only can it hit a camel in a tent, it can hit a specific camel in a tent even as it is trying to get its nose out.
What matters to me is how fast it reaches its target. In other words, does it whistle as it approaches its target so the bad guys have time to $hit in their pants before they get blown to pieces? To me, that would be worth $2 million.
The ‘opening ceremonies’ of both gulf wars just wouldn’t have been the same without the carnage that the Tomahawks wreaked in Iraq. Just seeing one presidential palace and govt. building after another shredded like obama’s authentic COLB was worth the $1.7m per shot.... but I’m not an American taxpayer so I got to watch the show for (almost) free. :^)
It is probably one of the best weapons ever developed.
“It is probably one of the best weapons ever developed.”
After seeing what little is declassified and available for public viewing, I have absolutely no doubt.
Side story...
I remember at the start of the first gulf war my father and I watching it all unfold on TV. CNN had just interviewed a slim built man that had just programmed the co-ordinates into the Tomahawks and launched them, his coffee cup could be seen on the console behind him, and he just casually wrapped up the interview with a comment like “come back in about an hour and we’ll let you know what we hit”
My father commented that back during his service in WW2 a ‘warrior’ was found in a trench or a foxhole clutching a .303, with rounds whizzing by just inches above his head, but now the warriors are “these skinny four-eye desk jockeys safe in their office” (his words) ...but he also noted that the power these “kids” are wielding scared him.
880 kilometers an hour - 547 mph? So why does Russian, India and China have supersonic cruise missiles, and how does an aircraft carrier stop one with a nuclear tip?
Our military works to terminate connections in command and control, which then allows us to terminate enemy forces while minimizing civilian casualties. The enemy (like the chicoms, etc.) are not so surgical, they seek total devastation regardless of civilian casualties. And no, a nuclear tipped cruise missile is not avoidable if it makes it to within a certain radius for detonation.
The Indians are developing one, The Russians have the Kh-55 cruise missile.It has a range of up to 3,000 km and can carry conventional or nuclear warheads. It was to be launched exclusively from bomber aircraft.The missile carries a 200 kiloton nuclear warhead. The Kh-55 is the Soviet counterpart to American BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile. The Chinese have the C802 cruise missile.The C802 is reportedly available in both anti-ship and land attack versions
Understood, but I have read you have about 15-25 seconds to detect and react to it, as it flies under radar. i think Iran has them also. Persian Gulf has some tight quarters!
Years ago, Sci Am had an article on the cruise missiles.
Years ago, this was a butt kicking, fear of God type of weapon.
It could hit a fly, hell, it could hit a certain leg on a fly.
With advances in computers and guidance systems like GPS tech since then, it can only be MUCH better now!
So how would a ship protect itself in a Persian Gulf type situation, with multiple missile attack, if it has only seconds to respond, or they come one after another from moving launchers? And how would the military respond fast enough if China takes out communication satellites early in a war?
Questions from armchair soldier.
Check back tomorrow.
“And how would the military respond fast enough if China takes out communication satellites early in a war?”
With the heavy reliance on sophisticated comms in modern warfare, this is a great question. But, do the Chinese or anyone else have the capacity to take out satellites at will?
You have the Phalanx CIWS is an anti-ship missile defense system the U.S. Navy uses. The U.S. Navy calls it R2-D2.During the first Iraqi War,it shot down a Iraqi Silkworm missile.It also accidentally shot down an A-6 Intruder.The Navy also uses the Rolling Airframe Missile.It is designed to shoot down cruise missiles. I really cannot answer yopur last question, but the military relies on communication satellites but I think that they have secondary methods of communication to all the armed forces.
The Chinese also made a anti-ship missile out of the DF-21. It has a range around 2000 miles.It primary design is to take out aircraft carriers and this missile is land based.
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