Submarine Launch Test Successful

Raytheon Company and the U.S. Navy successfully completed their third technical evaluation flight, designated DT- 7, of the Raytheon-produced Tactical Tomahawk July 9 at the Naval Air Systems Command sea and land test ranges in Southern California.

"We are extremely pleased with this highly successful first underwater launch from a U.S. Navy submarine," said Jon Jones, vice president, Raytheon Missile Systems Strike product line. "We are particularly proud that the honor of the first submarine firing went to the Navy platform bearing the name of our city."

Launched from USS Tucson (SSN 770), DT-7 marked the first launch of a Tactical Tomahawk missile from a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered attack submarine. This was the third of four launches that the U.S. Navy will conduct during its technical evaluation period.

"Our ship's motto, 'Team Tucson, the Tradition Continues,' is evermore true as the USS Tucson and our namesake city, Tucson, Arizona, produce a first for the U.S. Navy and our nation," said Cdr. William Traub, commanding officer of the Los Angeles-class attack submarine. "The success of the Tactical Tomahawk program is only due to the dedication and teamwork of all of the men and women involved."

800+ Nautical Miles to its Own Destruction (as Planned)

Launched near San Nicholas Island, the missile flew an over water and over land mission for greater than 800 nautical miles. The flight ended with a variable dive angle attack against a target at the China Lake Range; the missile was equipped with an inert warhead. The Tactical Tomahawk met all test objectives which included integration on a Los Angeles class submarine and further demonstration of the new Tactical Tomahawk capabilities, such as en route mission flexibility.

" The success of Tactical Tomahawk in all flight tests to date underscores the robustness of its design." said Capt. Bob Novak, Tomahawk All-Up Round program manager, Naval Air Systems Command. "This is a tribute to the continuing hard work and dedication of the NAVAIR-Raytheon team."

A surface- and submarine-launched, precision strike stand-off weapon, Tomahawk is the nation's weapon of choice for critical, long-range precision strike missions against high value, heavily defended targets.

Tactical Tomahawk will incorporate innovative technologies to provide new operational capabilities while dramatically reducing acquisition and life cycle costs. Scheduled for fleet introduction in 2004, the Tactical Tomahawk will cost less than half of a newly built Block III missile and will have the capability to respond to changing battlefield conditions through the use of its loiter and mission flex features.

FMI: www.raytheon.com; www.csp.navy.mil/css7/770.htm