The Pentagon announced that Raytheon Missile Systems has been awarded a USD90.4 million contract to provide engineering and manufacturing development for (EMD) contract by the Naval Air Systems Command to complete development of The Joint Multiple Effects Warhead System (JMEWS) warhead for the RGM-109E/UGM-109E Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile. This contract funds the design, integration, test and evaluation for the program, 79 percent of which will take place at Raytheon’s Tucson, Ariz., worksite. Other work on the contract will be performed in Cincinnati, Ohio; Plymouth, Minn.; and Rocket Center, W.V. Work is expected to be completed by November 2023.
The Joint Multiple Effects Warhead System is designed to greatly expand the land target set that the Tomahawk Block IV tactical cruise missile is capable of defeating, by combining the blast and fragmentation capabilities of the current warhead with a new penetration capability and improved mission planning. JMEWS will also be compliant with insensitive munitions requirements to improve safety during transportation and storage on land and aboard ships and submarines. The first JMEWS weapons completed testing in 2010.
The Tactical Tomahawk Block IV missile provides an expanded array of operational capabilities while reducing acquisition, operations and support costs. The missile has a two-way satellite data link that enables it to respond to changing battlefield conditions. The strike controller can divert the missile in flight to preprogrammed alternate targets or redirect it to a new target. The controller can also command the Tactical Tomahawk Block IV missile to loiter over the battlefield until a target is identified as well as reprogram JMEWS fuzing for optimal lethality against this newly identified target. The missile also can transmit battle damage imagery and missile telemetry information via the satellite data link.
