US Navy upgrades Tomahawk weapons control system

The U.S. Navy recently introduced an upgraded tactical Tomahawk weapons control system (TTWCS) to the fleet, after its predecessor spent more than a decade in service.

The Tomahawk Weapons System Program Office (PMA-280) has maintained the system since 2004 with incremental updates, but a more significant hardware and software modernization was required.

“It is critical that the Tomahawk weapons system evolves to meet warfighter’s needs,” said PMA-280 Program Manager Capt. Mark Johnson. “The TTWCS upgrade ensures that it will remain effective against changing enemy threats.”

To prevent hardware obsolescence, the PMA-280 team replaced older systems with faster, more capable processors. They updated software to increase cybersecurity and offer a simplified user interface.

The hardware improvements that were released to the fleet earlier this year will be incorporated on ships and nuclear powered cruise missile submarines. Newly constructed Arleigh Burke-class destroyers will have a reduced TTWCS footprint incorporated into their design. All surface and subsurface platforms are slated to receive software upgrades.

The Tomahawk Weapons System is the U.S. Navy’s premier, precision strike standoff weapon for attack of long range, medium range, and tactical targets. The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile is a subsonic cruise missile used for deep land attack warfare, launched from U. S. Navy surface ships and U.S. Navy and United Kingdom Royal Navy submarines.