It has been improved several times, and due to corporate divestitures and acquisitions,
is now made by Raytheon.
Some Tomahawks were also manufactured by General Dynamics (now Boeing Defense,
Space & Security).
Although a number of launch platforms have been deployed or envisaged, only sea
(both surface ship and submarine) launched variants are currently in service.
Tomahawk has a modular design, allowing a wide variety of warhead, guidance, and
range capabilities.
Design
The Tomahawk Block IV uses GPS navigation and a satellite data-link to continue
through a pre-set course.
The missile can be reprogrammed in-flight to a new target.
The guidance system is assisted by Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM). The Digital
Scene Matching Area Correlation (DSMAC) system or GPS provide terminal guidance.
The Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS) integrated with the ship's
systems computes the path to engage targets.
The system allows the planning of new missions aboard the launch vessel. the TTWCS
is also used to communicate with multiple missiles for reassigning the targets and
redirecting the missiles in flight.
Propulsion
The
The
Launch Platforms
The missile can be launched from over 140 US Navy ships and submarines
as well as Astute and Trafalgar class submarines of the Royal Navy.
Four Ohio class nuclear ballistic missile submarines were converted into
cruise missile submarines for firing Tomahawk missiles.
The Virginia class submarines and the Royal Navy Astute class submarines
were also fitted with new vertical launch modules for Tomahawk missile.
Navigation
The sub-munitions canisters are dispensed two at a time, one per side
TERCOM Terrain Contour Matching. A digital representation of an area of
terrain is mapped based on digital terrain elevation data or stereo imagery.
This map is then inserted into a TLAM mission which is then loaded on to
the missile.
When the missile is in flight it compares the stored map data with radar
altimeter data collected as the missile overflies the map.
Contd
Based
DSMAC
During
the flight the missile will verify that the images that it
has stored correlates with the image it sees below itself.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruise_missile
http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/tomahawk-long-range-c
ruise-missile
/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_(missile)
Thank