Tomahawk Command Datalink

[TwarVG]

Earlier on I was messing around with some British and American ships and I realised that none of the British SSNs (Astute and Trafalgar), nor the Type 26 FFGs have the Tomahawk command datalink even though both in game and real life the Royal Navy use the Blk IV TACTOM. Not having the datalink means the Royal Navy vessels can't really make good use of the IIR seeker and 2 way datalink to carry out target acquisition tasks and redirect missiles accordingly, which is the major tactical advantage of the Blk IV Tomahawks. I was wondering if this was simply an oversight in the database, or if there was a particular reason RN vessels don't have the datalink. Thanks.

[gbethel]

If it had the datalink, The sub would have to be operating at periscope depth to use the datalink, wouldn't it.

There is a roundabout way to add comlinks and datalinks.

[SeaQueen]

There is a roundabout way to add comlinks and datalinks.

Maybe what really needs the datalink is SOF (e.g. Navy SEAL and UK Special Boat Service guys)?

"The TACTOM missile is capable of loitering over a target area in order to respond to emerging targets or, with its on-board camera, provide battle damage information to warfighting commanders. TACTOM can also provide an on-scene commander with the flexibility to attack long-range fixed targets or support special-operations forces with a lethal, responsive, precision weapon system."

http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fu ... ry&id=5490

[TwarVG]

Periscope depth doesn't make a difference, the British platforms do not physically possess the necessary datalink to communicate with the Tomahawks making them no better than previous models except for range which is rarely a problem anyway.

[Dimitris]

Do these vessels have the datalinks in RL? A source would help.

It's not unheard of for UK armed forces to use US weapons not to their full potential for one reason or another. One example that comes to mind is the Tornado ADV, which for many years carried AMRAAMs without having the datalink for them.

[TwarVG]

I highly doubt a source for that will ever exist. The MoD are notoriously uptight about releasing information on weapons and combat systems, even ones that are years out of service in any military. But I don't think that the penny-pinching MoD would purchase the missiles over the older, cheaper stocks without the capability to use them to their full and intended potential considering it's the Royal Navy's only form of land attack outside of naval guns. Also, I would imagine with the Type 26 FFGs being designed from the start to carry a 24 cell VLS specifically for Tomahawk and any future weapons that it would be safe to say that they'll be built with all the necessary datalinks on board from the start.

[Dimitris]

So no sources. Thanks.

[Jace11]

While it may be difficult to get UK MoD sources on this, there are PLENTY from the US and Lockheed Martin, who provide the TTWCS datalink system. Note the TTWCS is not the ATWCS, it has additional capabilities that are specific to the TACTOM.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/lockhee ... tem-us-uk/

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articl ... -work.html

https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/ ... e/1430241/
-Mentions upgrade from baseline is partly funded by RN.

https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/ ... e/1430241/


UK SSN's (Astutes and Trafalgars) are consistently mentioned as having the same capabilities.