Posted on 10/24/2002 3:53:25 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
CHINA LAKE, Calif. (NNS) -- A U.S. Navy Tomahawk cruise missile was launched Oct. 16 from USS Stethem (DDG 63), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer underway in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California.
The Block III missile flew a fully guided 565-mile flight at the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) western test range complex. Seconds after launch from the ship’s vertical launch system, the Tomahawk missile transitioned to cruise flight, utilizing global positioning satellite navigation to a target on the range. The test was part of the Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS) technical evaluation process.
TTWCS is the next generation cruise missile weapons control system. It was developed by Lockheed Martin, Management and Data Systems in Valley Forge, Penn., and is scheduled for fleet introduction in 2003.
The test flight demonstrated a new weapons control system capability called Launch Platform Mission Planning (LPMP). This capability enables individual ships to plan and execute Tomahawk cruise missile strikes with Block III missiles and soon to be implemented Tactical Tomahawk cruise missiles.
LPMP was developed to reduce weapons system reaction time by speeding up the mission planning process. TTWCS will provide additional warfighting flexibility by allowing a launch platform or a command and control node to redirect Tactical Tomahawk to a new target while in flight. Tactical Tomahawk recently demonstrated its initial capabilities during the first contractor flight test in Aug. 2002. The missile is scheduled for fleet introduction in 2004.
Tomahawk missiles are deployed throughout the world’s oceans on numerous surface ships and submarines, including Aegis-class cruisers, guided-missile destroyers, and Seawolf- and Los Angeles-class submarines.
As in all Tomahawk flight tests, air route safety was carefully planned in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration. For safety purposes, the Tomahawk could have been guided by commands from safety chase aircraft.
The test marked the 401st Tomahawk flight test.
For related news, visit the NAVAIR - Naval Air Systems Command Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/NAVAIR.
Keep building them. We'll shoot more.
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