American submarines will be armed with Tomahawk anti-ship missiles next year

The United States Navy is gearing up to enhance its submarine capabilities with ship-targeting versions of the highly versatile Tomahawk missile, marking a strategic move to bolster military strength in the face of growing challenges from Chinese maritime forces, especially in the vicinity of Taiwan.

180918-N-VG727-1129 PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 18, 2018) A tomahawk cruise missile launches from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) for a live-fire exercise during Valiant Shield 2018. Valiant Shield is a U.S. only, biennial field training exercise (FTX) with a focus on integration of joint training in a blue-water environment among U.S. forces. This training enable real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking, and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land, and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class William Collins III)


The Maritime Strike version of the Tomahawk, traditionally employed as a ground-attack weapon, is slated for deployment after Oct. 1 next year, as revealed by program manager Captain Jon Hersey in a recent statement. The new models will undergo modifications, incorporating a state-of-the-art guidance system that enables them to effectively engage mobile sea-based targets. Captain Hersey noted that the initial version was received in 2022 for rigorous testing before being declared combat-ready.

The decision to deploy the revamped Tomahawk version aligns with the broader U.S. strategy to fortify its arsenal of ship-attack missiles. These additions are intended to complement submarine-launched torpedoes and act as a countermeasure against China’s numerically superior naval fleet.

In addition to submarines, the U.S. Navy plans to integrate these missiles into its surface vessels. However, the latter faces heightened vulnerability to China’s anti-ship capabilities, both on land and at sea.

The upcoming deployment will focus on Los Angeles- and Virginia-class submarines, with the latter capable of carrying an impressive arsenal of up to 40 land-attack Tomahawks. These missiles, with a range of up to 1,600 km, provide a significant strategic advantage by offering greater standoff distances from Chinese anti-access and area-denial missile systems. According to Brent Sadler, a senior research fellow in naval warfare and advanced technology at the Heritage Foundation, this increased range complicates Chinese planning for any potential blockade or invasion of Taiwan.

However, experts note that more work is needed to refine strategies on how these missiles will be employed to overwhelm Chinese forces effectively. Vice-Admiral William Houston, the Navy’s Submarine Forces Commander, expressed commitment to deploying the Maritime Strike Tomahawk as swiftly as possible. He highlighted that the dynamic nature of procurement, modernization, and fielding schedules involves various factors, including industrial base capacity and shipyard capabilities.

As geopolitical tensions continue to unfold, the arming of U.S. submarines with these advanced ship-targeting Tomahawk missiles marks a pivotal development in naval warfare capabilities, shaping the strategic landscape in the Indo-Pacific region.

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