July 19, 2000

Submitted by TEAM Public Affairs, PEO (W)

A new generation of Tomahawktook another step toward fleet introduction with completion of Tactical Tomahawk 's critical design phase.

Critical Design Review, an integral part of the engineering and manufacturing development program, was completed June 20 and 21 at the Raytheon Missile Systems Company, Tucson, Ariz., facility.

The meeting was the culmination of 26 individual component system-level critical design reviews. Tactical Tomahawk, scheduled to enter the fleet in fiscal year 2003, provides increased flexibility and responsiveness by incorporating two-way satellite communications for in-flight retargeting to new or emerging targets, battle damage indication imagery in the target area, and reduced launch timelines.

Production costs for Tactical Tomahawk are expected to be approximately 50 percent of the cost of procuring the current Tomahawk Block III missile. The total ownership cost of Tactical Tomahawk is also substantially lower than that of the Block III variant. This is because the Tactical Tomahawk recertification interval is twice as long as that of the Block III.

The Tactical Tomahawk design is ready to proceed into the integration, qualification and test phase of the development program, noted Rear Adm. John V. Chenevey, U.S. Navy program executive officer for Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation, (PEO (W)). For more information on PEO (W) programs, go to the PEO (W) Web site at www.peocu.js.mil.