Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Raytheon produced the fourth installment of” Tomahawk “(Block Ⅳ) Missile

newspaper correspondent Liu Guowei Li Meng

since the” Tomahawk “cruise missile In the 1991 Gulf War, First World War fame, the U.S. military operations in both the previous frequent use of such weapons. However, the Japanese media recently spread from the “Tomahawk” retiring news, Raytheon is later disclosed U.S. Navy has just delivered the first 2000 to the new “Tomahawk” cruise missiles. So why the one hand, announced plans to retire, “Tomahawk”, on the other hand, the U.S. Navy was busy receiving? It turned out that this “Tomahawk” nor “Tomahawk.”

nuclear submarine, “tomahawk” to retire

2 22, Japan’s Kyodo News reported that the U.S. government has informed Japan ” Tomahawk “cruise missiles will be gradually retired and promised this does not affect the protection of Japan’s nuclear policy. “Japan Times” on February 23 in the follow-up report that will be retired, “Tomahawk” missiles are sea-based submarine-launched missile with a nuclear warhead (TLAM/N), during the Cold War nuclear submarine in the United States to deploy to protect Japan. After the Cold War, this type of “Tomahawk” removed from the submarine, save the bases in the United States.

“Japan Times” said in Washington on notice earlier this year in Tokyo, to gradually make the sea-based “Tomahawk” from active service on the grounds that preservation and maintenance in the United States to pay a lot of money these missiles expenses. Removed from the library in the group of nuclear weapons, “Tomahawk” at the same time, the United States to Japan promised to use nuclear power and other conventional forces to ensure Japan’s security, to ensure that “will not affect China, Korea and other countries of deterrence.” Over the years can carry nuclear warheads, “Tomahawk” cruise missiles, is Japan’s most dependent on the umbrella, Japan has greatly increased the nuclear security.

in Prague in April last year, a speech advocating “world without nuclear weapons” concept, the U.S. president Barack Obama has been trying through concrete action to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation of nuclear disarmament regime. Obama to carry nuclear warheads retired sea-based “Tomahawk” and decide to write “Nuclear Posture Review”, and in March, the report submitted to Congress.

U.S. navy 2000 new “Tomahawk”

2 25, the U.S. arms giant Raytheon (Raytheon is also translated as) the company’s press statement disclose, transfer to the U.S. Navy just the first 2000 “Tomahawk” Block Ⅳ-type cruise missiles. U.S. Navy’s “Tomahawk” person in charge of weapon systems, Colonel Davidson said, “Tomahawk” cruise missiles in many combat operations in the U.S. Navy has played a key role in 2000, “Tomahawk” Block Ⅳ providing commanders covering the entire strong tactical battlefield weapon, they can destroy the enemy in a short time an important goal.

vice president of Raytheon Combat Systems 哈里舒尔特 said the new “Tomahawk” cruise missiles, both on the battlefield the breadth and depth of fire, or for the commander to provide operational flexibility in space, are “exceptional”. Raytheon’s “Tomahawk” cruise missile fields has become the world’s “benchmark.”

Raytheon, U.S. Navy in 2004 to deliver “Tomahawk” Block Ⅳ cruise missiles, to June 2008, four years delivered 1000, and by the end of February this year, and delivery of 1000. Can be seen, the U.S. Navy missile emphasis gradually.

Tactical “Tomahawk” into U.S. military weapon

According to the U.S. global security organization’s Web site, so far, “Tomahawk” cruise missile produced a total of four batches. In the 1970s and 1980s began fielding the “Tomahawk” Block Ⅰ in, BGM-109A carrying 200,000 tons TNT equivalent of the W-80 warhead; BGM-109B type is traditional with 454 kg high explosive warhead. The two first “Tomahawk” against less accurate, slower cruising speed, it is easy to be anti-aircraft fire shot down.

second installment of “Tomahawk” (Block Ⅱ) is the BGM-109C/D type of land attack (TLAM-C/D), dress Conventional high-explosive warhead, greatly improving firing accuracy. TLAM is the first really good “Tomahawk” missiles in the Gulf War in the appearance of it is this “Tomahawk.”

third installment of “Tomahawk” (Block Ⅲ) missile, equipped with GPS global positioning system receiver, TOR software control, programmable delay fuse and so on. Especially the TOR software, enabling more “Tomahawk” attack the same target from different directions.

the fourth installment of “Tomahawk” (Block Ⅳ) missiles, installed with anti-interference ability of GPS receivers, and installation of UHF dual-band satellite data link information, can change the target in the middle of the flight. Current “Tomahawk” is the newest member of the family tactical “Tomahawk” (TACTOM), also known as “Tomahawk” Block Ⅳ +. Tactical “Tomahawk” the biggest innovation is to use elasticity increased significantly. All previous “Tomahawk” in pre-launch development of mission planning, terrain and image data input to the missile, etc., very troublesome and time-consuming process (about 80 hours), and can not change the target in flight. Solved these problems in the TACTOM, thereby greatly increasing the Tactical “Tomahawk” cruise missiles flexibility. Rapid response to the U.S. military in combat missions, can be more convenient and effective use of this cutting-edge “Tomahawk.”

In short, the U.S. military but the technology has become obsolete, and because the carrying nuclear warheads can not easily use the first “Tomahawk” retired, but continued U.S. arms giant, cutting-edge equipment for the U.S. “Tomahawk . ” This will not only allow U.S. troops continue to occupy the field in cruise missile technology, but also greatly reduces the threshold for the use of the missile. U.S. military in the foreseeable future local wars, will be more frequent use of the “Tomahawk.”