INDIAN HEAD, Maryland - The Navy's Tactical Tomahawk
missile underwent a successful production acceptance test using Functional
Ground Test (FGT) capability at Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division's (NSWC IHEODTD) , March 19.
The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile is managed by Naval Air
Systems Command's Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike
Weapons is an all-weather, long-range, sub-sonic cruise missile used for land
attack warfare, and is launched from U. S. Navy surface ships and
submarines.
"This latest FGT is the 84th we've conducted in the
past 25 years and was in support of the RGM-109E Block IV, Vertical Launch
System (VLS) full-rate production lot acceptance," said Michael Spriggs,
senior engineer and FGT test conductor.
"We used a single, representative missile from the full-rate
production line to demonstrate the capability of this lot to perform mission
requirements. The data we collected from
the test will be used to verify the manufacturing processes and quality of
missiles produced."
During the test, the missile is exercised at the system
level as it would be in an operational flight through the detonation command, except
that the missile is restrained in a specially designed test stand and is
equipped with an inert warhead.
"After 'launch,' real-time, six-degree-of-freedom
accredited mission simulation software provides inputs to the missile's
guidance system to mimic flight, targeting and detonation. The missile 'flew'
for about an hour and 45 minutes before it successfully acquired the
target," said Mike Gardner, FGT software lead. "Because the missile remains intact,
special instrumentation can be applied and thorough post-flight inspections can
be conducted."
In addition to acceptance testing, FGTs are conducted to
verify new missiles; assess service life of aged missiles; monitor stockpiled
missiles; or observe newly engineered components.
NSWC IHEODTD - a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems
Command and part of the Navy's Science and Engineering Enterprise - is the
leader in ordnance, energetics, and EOD solutions. The Division focuses on energetics research,
development, testing, evaluation, in-service support, and disposal; and
provides warfighters solutions to detect, locate, access, identify, render
safe, recover, exploit, and dispose of explosive ordnance threats.