Project Fact Files

Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) Milestones

The first missiles were delivered to the UK in February 1998, and the development programmes for the submarine TWS and ATWCS were completed to schedule. As a consequence, installation and sea trials in the first RN submarine were successfully carried out between October 1997 and June 1998. At Northwood, on site work for the CMSA started in March 1997 and site acceptance was successfully completed in March 1998. Installation of the FMS supplied mission planning equipment was rapidly completed to enable the site and equipment to be handed over to the Northwood authorities at the end of May 1998. This work culminated in highly successful Operational Test Launch (OTL) firings undertaken on the US West Coast range in November 1998, and the subsequent declaration of the ISD for RN TOMAHAWK, as planned, on 18 December 1998.

Fleet Weapon Acceptance (FWA) was achieved (earlier than planned) on 28 November 2001. To be able to maintain the capability, upgrades to the system are required. Tactical Tomahawk Weapon Control System (TTWCS) will replace ATWCS.

In April 2004 the UK Government took the decision to purchase 64 Block IV TLAMs through a Foreign Military Sales Case with the US Government. The new, conventionally armed, Block IV missiles (also known as Tactical Tomahawk - TACTOM) have a higher specification than the existing Block III missiles. As such, they will provide the added ability to retarget or abort mission in flight and will have a Battle Damage Indication capability. They will be capable of being fired from our current Trafalgar Class submarines as well as from the new Astute Class submarines when they enter service. The missiles will be manufactured by Raytheon.

Last Updated: 20 May 05