The Tomahawk Missile Gets Smarter—and Deadlier

[onehandle]

In late July, Congress actually agreed on something: House and Senate committees announced plans to add $82 million for Tomahawk cruise missile production in 2015. The venerable cruise missile is coming back, and coming back smarter and stronger.

In the decade following 9/11, missiles mostly sat on the sidelines while the United States engaged mostly in battles against insurgents. But the age of the cruise missile has returned with violent fanfare. On March 19, 2011 the Western world was reminded of the power of Tomahawk missiles; that night more than 100 missiles launched from U.S. and U.K. ships and submarines crossed into Libyan airspace and descended on targets belonging to the regime of Muammar Gaddafi. This opening salvo targeted airfields, command and control centers, and anti-aircraft radar, paving the way for airstrikes that led to a regime change.

Missiles are the marquee weapon system of the 21st century. Enemy radar and air defenses are getting better, and the ranges of missiles operated by potential foes are getting longer. That means the number of planes the U.S. can place into a war zone is decreasing. These trends make a ripe market for the 18-foot-long Tomahawk missile. "There is no target on earth that the U.S. Navy and Royal Navy cannot hold at risk with the Tomahawk," says Roy Donelson, Tomahawk program director for Raytheon defense systems.

But that doesn't mean the missile can't get smarter. For example: "The U.S. Navy and Raytheon are collaborating on a program that will provide the Tomahawk with rapid in-flight target updates that enable the weapon to engage moving targets," Donelson tells PM.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military/weapons/the-tomahawk-missile-gets-smarter-and-deadlier-17046468

The ultimate gun porn.