On November 6, the U.S. Army selected the Navy’s Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) and the BGM-109 Tomahawk for its Mid-Range Capability (MRC), part of the service’s ground-launched strike modernization effort. Following the selection, the Army awarded a $339.3 million contract to integrate both weapons for a ground-based launcher by late 2022. The supersonic SM-6 missile has...
Officials have confirmed U.S. Navy plans to upgrade its Tomahawk missiles to the Block V configuration. Speaking at the 2020 Surface Navy Association Symposium, Tomahawk program manager John Red said the Navy would retire its Block III Tomahawks and update its Block IV units to the new configuration, which adds modern guidance systems and extends...
On August 18, the U.S. Department of Defense flight tested a ground-launched cruise missile from San Nicolas Island, California. Launched from a MK-41 Vertical Launch System, the Tomahawk cruise missile struck its target “after more than 500 kilometers of flight.” Variants of the Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missile (TLAM) are capable of ranges between 1,250...
On January 28, the U.S. Navy confirmed the Block V designation for the next variant of the Tomahawk cruise missile. The mid-life recertification of the Block IV Tactical Tomahawk and its modernization program began at the start of FY 2019. IHS Jane’s reports that the goal of the Tomahawk’s modernization is to “replace and recertify...
On April 13, the United States, United Kingdom, and France launched a joint strike of 105 missiles on Syrian chemical weapons storage and research facilities. The operation came in response to an alleged poison gas attack by the Syrian government on the rebel-held area of Douma. The joint strike, which lasted two minutes, took nearly...
Japan is reportedly considering purchasing Tomahawk cruise missiles from the Unites States. The Japanese government is reportedly considering putting the Tomahawks on Japan’s Aegis-capable guided missile destroyers in its Maritime Self-Defense Force fleet, although the ships will require modification in order to do so. Despite the Japanese constitution prescribing an exclusively defensive posture, the growing...
On April 6, the United States launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles from destroyers based in the Mediterranean, targeting the Al Shayrat Airfield in Syria. The USS Ross (DDG-71) fired 36 of the missiles, while the USS Porter (DDG-78) fired the other 23 Tomahawks. Tomahawk missiles have a range of 1,250-2,500 km and have been an...
In the series finale of the television show Breaking Bad, chemistry teacher-turned meth kingpin Walter White breaks into the home of an ex-business partner, who out of fear arms himself with a butter knife. “If we’re gonna go that way,” White says dryly, “you’ll need a bigger knife.” The man knows he cannot compete, and...
The Navy destroyer U.S.S. Pinckney (DDG-91) conducted two flight tests of the Tomahawk Block IV missile. The first test used the Launch Platform Mission Planning system which allowed the Pinckney, located off the coast of southern California, to use targeting data provided by U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. The second test used the...
On October 9, the USS Mason fired two Standard Missile-2 Block IV interceptors and an Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile in response to multiple cruise missiles launched at it and the USS Ponce off the coast of Yemen. The attack comes after a cruise missile launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen struck a UAE vessel on...
