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Caption:
At sea aboard USS Stethem (DDG 63) -- A Tactical Tomahawk Cruise
Missile launches from the guided missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63)
during a live-warhead test. The missile traveled 760 nautical miles to
successfully impact its intended target on San Clemente Island, part of
the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) test range in Southern
California. The Tactical Tomahawk is 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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