The Navy recently issued a contract to Raytheon [RTN] for more than 360 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) to replenish the arsenal of the precision strike weapons used during operations in Libya more than a year ago and as part of its fiscal 2012 plans.
The $338-million contract is for the Block IV version of the missiles launched off destroyers, cruisers and attack submarines. The Navy is buying 238 for the surface combatants and 123 for subs, according to the announcement released by the Pentagon Thursday. The Navy fired more than 220 Tomahawks during the Libya campaign.
“The FY 2012 Block IV Tomahawk missile procurement includes purchasing sufficient missiles to replenish weapons expended during Libyan operations,” Chip Guffey, the principal deputy program manager for missile program at Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), said in an emailed statement.
The United States and United Kingdom launched a flurry of Tomahawks in March 2011 against the late Muammer Gaddafi’s regime to enforce a U.N.-established no-fly zone aimed at protecting civilians during the uprising against Gaddafi’s 42-year rule.
The early stages of Operation Odyssey Dawn that evolved into a NATO-led mission effectively facilitated the ouster of Gaddafi by rebel militias. Gaddafi, who had gone into hiding, was found and killed in October.
The Libya operations also witnessed the 2,000th combat launch of a Tomahawk off the USS Barry (DDG-52). Tomahawks have been used in every major U.S. military conflict since the first Gulf War in 1991.
“With more than 2,000 combat uses and 500 successful tests, Tomahawk has proven highly reliable and effective,” Capt. Joseph Mauser, the Navy’s Tomahawk program manager, said.
The Block IV TLAM can be preprogrammed on a target or loiter and be redirected to an alternative destination.