TUCSON, Ariz., 9 June 2012. The U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) a $338 million contract for the Tomahawk Block IV tactical cruise missile. The contract includes replenishment of weapons used during Operation Odyssey Dawn and procurement for the government's fiscal year 2012.
More than 2,000 Tomahawk missiles have been fired to date. The Tomahawk, which was originally introduced in the 1970s by General Dynamics, is now integrated on a variety of U.S. and U.K. surface and sub-surface platforms, including the Ohio-, Astute- and Trafalgar-class submarines.
The contract calls for Raytheon to build and deliver the Tomahawk Block IV subsonic cruise missiles, and provide warranties, flight test and life-cycle support. Production is scheduled to begin later this year.
The Tomahawk Block IV is a surface- and submarine-launched, precision-strike, stand-off weapon with a range of more than 1,150 miles. Tomahawk is designed for long-range precision-strike missions against high-value and heavily defended targets, such as integrated air defense systems.
Tomahawk Block IV employs a two-way satellite datalink that enables a strike controller to flex the missile in flight to preprogrammed alternate targets or redirect it to a new target. This targeting flexibility includes the capability to loiter over the battlefield and await a more critical target.
