Navy orders Block IV Tomahawks

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TUCSON, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Raytheon is to build and begin delivering Block IV variant Tomahawk cruise missiles to the U.S. Navy under a $254.6 million contract.

The award includes conducting flight tests and life-cycle support of the weapons system, which has a range of about 1,000 statute miles and is deployed on all major surface and submarine vessels of the U.S. Navy and the British navy.

"Tomahawk Block IV enables the warfighter to precisely engage heavily defended and high-value targets from extremely long distances, which is critical to maintaining national security," said Capt. Joe Mauser, Navy Tomahawk program manager. "With more than 2,000 combat missions and 500 successful tests completed, Tomahawk has proven its outstanding reliability and effectiveness."

Major enhancements to the Block IV variant of the missile include the addition of a two-way satellite data-link. With the data link, a strike controller can redirect the missile in flight to pre-programmed alternate targets or other targets, Raytheon said.

"Tomahawk has an excellent record of reliability, effectiveness and accuracy," Harry Schulte, vice president of Air Warfare Systems for Raytheon Missile Systems said. "No other tactical cruise missile in the world can come close to matching it. This missile provides unparalleled capability and has greatly contributed to the security of our country and our allies."