The UK’s stock of Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) will be
upgraded on Royal Navy submarines to ensure the weapon is even
more effective against future threats.
In a £265 million contract with the US Government, with
maintenance and technical support at the UK sites of BAE Systems,
Babcock International and Lockheed Martin, the Royal Navy’s
Astute-Class submarines will be armed with an enhanced Block V
standard missile, capable of striking severe threats at a range
of up to 1,000 miles.
The upgraded missile will be able to travel further than the
previous Block IV iteration, maintaining a precision-strike
capability that is unmatched in range and accuracy. The upgrade
will also make the weapon less vulnerable to external threats,
with modernised in-flight communication and target selection.
At approximately 5.6m long and weighing 2200kg – a similar weight
to a 4x4 car - the high sub-sonic Tomahawk was first introduced
into UK service in 1998 and can hit in-land targets from the sea
within minutes. A weapon of choice since then, it has been
successfully deployed during operations in Afghanistan, Libya and
Iraq.
Minister for Defence Procurement, , said:
This upgrade will equip our Astute-Class attack submarines with
the one of the most lethal and precise long-range strike weapons.
Enhancing this cutting-edge missile system will ensure the UK can
strike severe threats up to 1,000 miles away.
The Tomahawk missiles will be upgraded as part of a Foreign
Military Sale with the US Government, which was negotiated by the
MOD’s procurement arm, Defence Equipment and Support and will be
active from July.
Making use of existing US research and expertise on the upgraded
missile, the contract will mean the UK continues to receive full
access to the US Tomahawk programme, support package and
upgrades.
DE&S Director Weapons, Ed Cutts, said:
Not only will this FMS sustain and improve a proven, crucial
operational capability for any future conflicts, it will continue
to ensure interoperability with our US allies and the follow-on
support arrangements will sustain jobs for UK industry.
As Block IV is upgraded to Block V from 2024, it will modernise
and improve in-flight communications and navigation, making the
missile more effective against future threats around the globe.
The Foreign Military Sale also includes missile maintenance,
recertification of existing missiles, spares, operational flight
testing, software, hardware and training provisions.
Director Submarines, Rear Admiral Simon Asquith
said:
The Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missile is a cutting-edge system
which provides the UK with real strategic and operational choice.
Able to be fired from a stealthy UK nuclear attack submarine, the
system’s exceptional range, accuracy and survivability provides
the UK, alongside our US Allies, with a world beating precision
strike capability.
The announcement builds on commitments made in the Defence Command
Paper and Integrated Review, in
addition to Royal Navy mission planning and weapon control system
upgrades that will improve the performance of legacy Block IV
missiles.
Due to be operational in the mid-2020s, the upgraded Tomahawk
will align with the delivery of the latest Astute submarines.
