In a bid to bolster its naval arsenal’s effectiveness, the United States Navy has taken a significant step by awarding Raytheon Technologies Corp. (RTX) a $124.3 million contract to upgrade its BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles with advanced seeker technology. This upgrade will enable these formidable weapons to target and strike moving enemy ships at sea, providing a crucial advantage in modern naval warfare.

Strengthening Naval Strike Capabilities: The Evolution of Tomahawk Missiles

The Naval Air Systems Command, based at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, recently announced this substantial contract, marking a pivotal moment in enhancing the Navy’s strike capabilities.

The focus of this contract is the development of Maritime Strike Tomahawk (MST) sensor seekers, a critical component designed to deliver midcourse and terminal guidance for Tomahawk missiles launched from Navy surface warships and submarines.

The Maritime Strike Tomahawk, also known as Tomahawk Block 5A, made its debut in 2021, introducing critical advancements in navigation and multi-sensor in-flight targeting. These improvements transformed the long-range subsonic missile into a potent anti-ship weapon. Navy surface warships and submerged submarines can launch the Tomahawk, making it a versatile and indispensable asset in the Navy’s arsenal.