EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla -- A U.S. Navy Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile was vertically launched earlier today by the USS Winston S Churchill (DDG 81), in the Gulf of Mexico and completed a successful test.

The launched missile executed a Vertical Dive Maneuver attack on the Eglin H-Target complex on the test range here.

Seconds after launch from the USS Churchill, the test-configured Tomahawk transitioned to cruise flight. The missile successfully flew approximately 645 nautical miles using GPS-only navigation which provided navigation updates enroute to the target site.

Safety chase aircraft were provided by the Air Force 46th Test Wing’s 40th Flight Test Squadron, based here. Chase aircraft were flown by a combined Air Force and Navy crew from the 40th FLTS and from the Navy VX-30 and VX-31 test squadrons, based at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division test centers at Point Mugu and China Lake, California.

As in all Tomahawk flight tests, air 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.

Additionally, alternate safe landing zones were planned along the entire flight path.

The Tomahawk cruise missile is built for the U.S. Navy by Raytheon Missile Systems of Tucson Ariz. "Tomahawk" is a registered trademark of the U.S. Navy.

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