Raytheon Company has delivered the 3,000th Tomahawk Block IV missile to the US Navy as part of its ninth Block IV full-rate FY12 production contract. The US Navy continues to purchase Tomahawk missiles via the 2013 budget, and negotiations are ongoing for next year’s production contract.

A major enhancement introduced with the Tomahawk Block IV missile includes a two-way satellite data link that enables a strike controller to redirect the missile in-flight to preprogrammed alternate targets or more critical targets. Tomahawk is employed from both surface- and sub-surface platforms, and more than 2,000 have been expended in real-world operations.

With a range of approximately 1,000 statute miles, the Tomahawk Block IV missile is a surface- and submarine-launched precision strike stand-off weapon.