A U.S. Navy Tomahawk cruise missile was launched in an operational test today at 9:00 a.m. PST from USS BREMERTON (SSN-698), a submerged LOS ANGELES-Class submarine, off the southern California coast, Naval Air Systems Command western test range complex.

Seconds after launch from the submarine's torpedo tube, the Tomahawk missile transitioned to cruise flight for the land attack mission. It flew a fully guided 860-mile test flight using Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) navigation to a target and recovery site on the test range. The missile's parachute recovery system was activated as planned. The missile was safely recovered and will be refurbished for future use.

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

While maintaining its deep strike capability, Tomahawk continues to evolve to meet the warfighters' needs for a more flexible and "tactical" precision strike weapon. Future variants will incorporate new technologies to provide advanced operational capabilities and expanded missions while significantly reducing acquisition and life cycle costs.

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.

Today marked the 396th Tomahawk flight test.