A U.S. Navy Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile was launched this week from USS TUCSON (SSN-770), a submerged LOS ANGELES-Class submarine underway in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern Calif. The missile flew a land attack mission, launching from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) sea ranges.

Seconds after launch from the submarine's vertical launch system, the Tomahawk missile transitioned to cruise flight. It flew a fully guided 815-nautical mile test flight using global positioning satellite and digital scene matching area correlator navigation, to a target site on the NAVAIR land range.

Tomahawk Block IV achieved an initial operational capability in May 2004. The Tomahawk is ship and submarine launched, and was first employed operationally during Desert Storm. Since then, the missile has been heralded for its accuracy and lethality. The enhanced capabilities of Tomahawk Block IV increase fleet effectiveness, while significantly reducing acquisition and life cycle costs.

Tomahawk missiles are deployed throughout the world's oceans on numerous surface ships and submarines, including AEGIS-Class Cruisers, Guided Missile Destroyers, and SEAWOLF and LOS ANGELES-Class submarines.

As in all Tomahawk flight tests, air route safety was carefully planned in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration. For safety purposes, the Tomahawk could have been guided by commands from safety chase aircraft.

The Tomahawk program is managed by the Program Executive Office, Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation (PEO(W)) co-located at the NAVAIR complex in Patuxent River, Maryland. The missile is manufactured by Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ. Tomahawk is a registered trademark of the United States Navy.