TUCSON, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Communications upgrades for Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles have been successfully tested by Raytheon and the U.S. Navy.
Raytheon said in a flight test earlier this month, a Raytheon-built Tomahawk flew a pre-programmed route while receiving updates from a simulated maritime operations center and from advanced off-board sensors updating the missile's target location.
Throughout the flight, the missile maintained communications with all the command-and-control assets and provided updates on its location before hitting the target.
"Working closely with our U.S. Navy partner, we continue to modernize Tomahawk to stay ahead of the escalating threat," said Roy Donelson, Raytheon Tomahawk program director. "By making key changes to the way the operators use sensors and communications assets, we can now provide the (Navy) fleet with even more dynamic targeting capabilities for Tomahawk."
The Tomahawk Block IV is a precision stand-off weapon with a range of about 1,000 statute miles. It is integrated on all major U.S. surface combatants and various classes of submarines. It can be retargeted in flight.
Additional details on the communications modernization of the missile and the latest test conducted were not provided.
