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Caption:
China Lake, Calif. (Nov. 10, 2002) -- A Tactical "Tomahawk" Block IV
cruise missile is escorted by a Navy F-14 "Tomcat" fighter during a
controlled test over the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) western
test range complex in southern California. During the second such
test flight, the missile successfully completed a vertical underwater
launch, flew a fully guided 780-mile course, and impacted a designated
target structure as planned. The Tactical Tomahawk, the next generation
of Tomahawk cruise missile adds the capability to reprogram the missile
while in-flight to strike any of 15 preprogrammed alternate targets or
redirect the missile to any Global Positioning System (GPS) target
coordinates. It also will be able to loiter over a target area for some
hours, and with its on-board TV camera, will allow the war fighting
commanders to assess battle damage of the target, and, if necessary
redirect the missile to any other target. Launched from the Navy's
forward-deployed ships and submarines, Tactical Tomahawk will provide a
greater flexibility to the on-scene commander. Tactical Tomahawk
is scheduled to join the fleet in 2004. U.S. Navy photo.
(RELEASED)
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