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Tomahawk launch from
USS Farragut [DDG-99]
(click to view full)

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) received a task order from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to support the Tomahawk weapons system program.

The task order has a 1-year base period of performance, 4 one-year options, and a total value of more than $60 million if all options are exercised. The task order was awarded under the US Navy’s SeaPort-e contract.

The Tomahawk is a submarine or ship-launched land-attack cruise missile…

After launch, a solid propellant propels the missile until a small turbofan engine takes over for the cruise portion of flight. Radar detection of the Tomahawk missile is difficult because of its small cross-section, low altitude flight. Similarly, infrared detection is difficult because the turbofan engine emits little heat. Tomahawk systems include a Global Positioning System receiver; an upgrade of the optical Digital Scene Matching Area Correlation (DSMAC) system; time of arrival control; and 402 turbo engines.

The Tomahawk has been used to attack a variety of fixed targets, including air defense and communications sites, often in high-threat environments. The land attack version of Tomahawk has inertial and terrain contour matching radar guidance, which uses a stored map reference to compare with the actual terrain to determine the missile’s position. If necessary, a course correction is then made to place the missile on course to the target. Terminal guidance in the target area is provided by the optical DSMAC system, which compares a stored image of target with the actual target image.

Under the task order, SAIC will provide technical support services to NAVAIR Program Management Air (PMA) 280, which is responsible for delivering the Tomahawk cruise missile to the US Navy. SAIC will provide services in areas including systems engineering, configuration management, safety, simulation, advance concepts, and test and evaluation.