Tomahawk missile
| Tomahawk | |
|---|---|
A BGM-109 Tomahawk flying in November 2002 | |
| Type | Cruise missile Anti-ship missile (Block V & TASM variants) Submarine-launched cruise missile Land-attack missile Surface-to-surface missile |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1983–present |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | General Dynamics (initially) McDonnell Douglas Hughes Aircraft Company Raytheon Missiles & Defense |
| Unit cost |
|
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 2,900 lb (1,300 kg), 3,500 lb (1,600 kg) with booster |
| Length |
|
| Diameter | 20.4 in (0.52 m) |
| Wingspan | 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m) |
| Warhead | BGM-109A: W80 nuclear warhead (yield 5 to 200 kilotonnes of TNT (21 to 837 TJ)) (retired) BGM-109C/E: WDU-36/B 690 pounds (310 kg) unitary warhead containing 265 pounds (120 kg) of PBXN-107 high explosive |
Detonation mechanism | FMU-148 since TLAM Block III, others for special applications |
| Engine | Williams International F107-WR-402 turbofan using TH-dimer fuel and a solid-fuel rocket booster |
Operational range | Block II TLAM-N – 1,350 nmi (1,550 mi; 2,500 km) Block III TLAM-C, Block IV TLAM-E – 900 nmi (1,000 mi; 1,700 km) Block Vb – >900 nmi (>1036 mi; >1666 km) (exact range is classified) RGM/UGM-109B TASM – 250 miles, 460 km |
| Flight altitude | 98–164 ft (30–50 m) AGL |
| Maximum speed | Subsonic; ~Mach 0.74. about 570 mph (500 kn; 920 km/h) |
Guidance system | GPS, INS, TERCOM, DSMAC, active radar homing (RGM/UGM-109B) |
Launch platform | Mark 41 Vertical Launching System Torpedo tubes Surface ships Submarines TELs |
The BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is an American long-range, all-weather, jet-powered, subsonic cruise missile that is used by the United States Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Netherlands Navy and Royal Navy in ship and submarine-based land-attack operations.
Developed at the Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University under James H. Walker near Laurel, Maryland, the Tomahawk emerged in the 1970s as a modular cruise missile first manufactured by General Dynamics. Early tests of the missile took place between 1983 and 1993, during which time 23 cruise missiles were tested over northern Canada under the "Canada–U.S. Test and Evaluation Program". The goal of the program was to simulate the climate and terrain similar to that of the northern Soviet Union, and to allow the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) to develop an anti-cruise capability. The Tomahawk aimed to fulfill the need for a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile with diverse capabilities. Its modular design allows for compatibility with a range of warheads, including high-explosive, submunitions, and bunker-busters. The Tomahawk can use a variety of guidance systems, including GPS, inertial navigation, and terrain contour matching. Over a dozen variants and upgraded versions have been developed since the original design, including air-, sub-, and ground-launched configurations with both conventional and nuclear armaments. The Tomahawk's manufacturing history has seen several transitions. General Dynamics served as the sole supplier in the 1970s. From 1992 until 1994, McDonnell Douglas was the sole supplier of Tomahawks, producing Block II and Block III versions and remanufacturing many Tomahawks to Block III specifications. In 1994, Hughes Aircraft, having purchased General Dynamics' missile division in 1992, outbid McDonnell Douglas to become the sole supplier of Tomahawks. A joint venture between Hughes and Raytheon manufactured the missile from 1995 until Raytheon's acquisition of Hughes in 1997, solidifying their position as the sole supplier. In 2016, the US Department of Defense purchased 149 Tomahawk Block IV missiles for $202.3 million. As of 2024, Raytheon remains the sole manufacturer of non-nuclear, sea-launched Tomahawk variants.