Functional ground testing for a new production lot of the U.S. Navy's Tomahawk tactical cruise missile has been conducted by the Navy Warfare Center Division.

The FGT involved exercising the Raytheon-produced weapon at the system level – from launch to detonation phase -- but with the missile physically restrained and 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," said Mike Gardner, the software lead for NWCD testing. "The missile 'flew' for about an hour and 45 minutes before it successfully acquired the target,"

Added Michael Spriggs, senior engineer and FGT test conductor: "This latest FGT - which is the 84th we've conducted in the past 25 years - was in support of the RGM-109E Block IV, Vertical Launch System full-rate production lot acceptance. "The data we collected from the test will be used to verify the manufacturing processes and quality of missiles produced.

"Preliminary assessment indicates this missile performed as expected and all test objectives were achieved."