Sub-Launched Tomahawk Missile Test A Smashing Success | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.09.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.10.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Sun, Apr 08, 2007

Sub-Launched Tomahawk Missile Test A Smashing Success

Ever Wonder What A Missile Looks Like RIGHT Before Impact?

Sources within the US Navy tell ANN the successful first test of a submarine torpedo tube-launched Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile was conducted at the Navy's missile range off the coast of southern California March 26.

Launched from the Los Angeles-Class attack submarine USS Pasadena (SSN-752), the missile transitioned to cruise flight and flew a satellite-guided 635-nautical mile test flight to the NAVAIR Land Range at the NAVAIR Weapons Division in China Lake, CA.

Test parameters included a successful re-direction of the missile in flight to an alternate flight route, and an alternate target using satellite communications. The one-hour, 26-minute flight concluded with a commanded 60 degree dive to the new aim point on the target.

"Today's successful event demonstrates Tomahawk's full range of capability," remarked Tomahawk program manager, Capt. Rick McQueen, "as well as the government/industry team's commitment to excellence."

The Tomahawk cruise missile is a surface ship and submarine-launched long-range, subsonic cruise missile used for land attack warfare. It is designed to fly at extremely low altitudes at high subsonic speeds, and can be flown on evasive routes by several mission-tailored guidance systems. Tomahawk missiles are deployed throughout the world's oceans on numerous surface ships and submarines, including Aegis cruisers, guided missile destroyers, and Seawolf and Los Angeles-class submarines.

McQueen stated that, like the Block III missile, the Block IV Torpedo Tube Launch missile is an all-weather, survivable cruise missile that can be launched from submarines. "The redesign brings improvements to missile navigation, guidance, and communications subsystems," he said.

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 chase aircraft.

The reason for such strident safety measures is obvious: so the scene above -- of the Tomahawk test missile, exactly ONE SECOND before impact -- is seen only exactly where it's supposed to be. If that picture doesn't send shivers down your spine, you might want to check your pulse...

FMI: www.navair.navy.mil

Advertisement

More News

NTSB Final Report: Aviat A1

Airplane Bounced About 3 Ft Then Touched Back Down And Then, With No Brakes Applied, The Airplane Began Veering To The Left Analysis: The pilot entered the airport traffic pattern >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.08.25)

Aero Linx: British Microlight Aircraft Association (BMAA) The primary focus within all aviation activity is SAFETY. In all aspects of our sport SAFETY must come first, whether it b>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Fly Corvair’s Reliable Engine Alternative

From SnF25 (YouTube Edition): William Wynne Builds Practical Aircraft Engines on the Corvair Platform Seeking an affordable alternative to the traditional aircraft engine options, >[...]

ANN FAQ: Contributing To Aero-TV

How To Get A Story On Aero-TV News/Feature Programming How do I submit a story idea or lead to Aero-TV? If you would like to submit a story idea or lead, please contact Jim Campbel>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: CiES Fuel-Quantity and e-Throttle Systems Praised

From 2023 (YouTube Edition): Bridge of CiES CiES Inc. is a Bend, Oregon-based designer and manufacturer of modular embedded aircraft systems and sensors. The company’s fuel-l>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC