War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Europe Goes Nuclear; 104; Ground Launch Cruise Missiles, 1987

The tomahawk family of cruise missiles developed to provide a bird's little weapon for America's defense. Tomahawks features it is small low flying far ranging it basic reliable and accurate. A natural derivative of the sea launched cruise missile is the ground launched cruise missile. Selected as part of NATO's theater nuclear force modernization program like M is based throughout Western Europe. Like the land attacks like I'm the ground launched cruise missile flies a tree top levels using the terrain for masking. Each Glycon unit consists of four transporter erector launcher vehicles

each with four missiles and two mobile launch control centers. One primary and one backup an integral part of the glycogen system is the 400 horsepower 10 ton diesel tractor built in West Germany. The two pronged axles steer and all eight wheels drive for rapid highway transport and excellent off road mobility during peacetime. These units are secured on native operating bases in hardened shelters to provide protection from conventional attacks. During advance alert units would be dispersed to remote sites to enhance survivability. Frequent moves would ensure the highest survival rate. Missile launch is initiated from the launch control center el-Sisi which provides communications command and control for the system

protected by the el-Sisi against chemical and biological threats. The two man crew is able to work unincumbered in a shirtsleeve environment. Both PLCC and tell are hardened against nuclear effects and armor protected against small arms fire and fragmentation. Testing has shown the capacity of the system to operate autonomously with the crew isolated in the el-Sisi for an extended period of time all the while maintaining watch readiness system performance has been demonstrated by both flight and ground testing. Successful missile launches have verified the capability of the LTC to program initialize and launch missile navigation low level flight warhead arming and terminal accuracy have all been demonstrated. With a range of twenty five hundred

kilometers like a meets the requirement for a mobile accurate low cost system detouring redundant nuclear safety provisions and a warhead that can not be tampered with nor armed outside the designated target area look him as a safe reliable system that significantly enhances NATO's deterrent posture. Tomahawk Cruise missiles are in quantity production. Computer guided machines assure precision quality and continued reduction in cost through hands off baju machining. Assembly lines in an environmentally controlled areas which are the paperless factory system. Mechanics receive the most current work instructions at computer workstations reducing rework and meeting exacting full scale production schedules.

Computerized automatic test equipment verifies component and system performance to strict quality standards. Tomahawk is in production and in the field. Base today throughout Western Europe and on alert as part of NATO's theater nuclear force. Launched against targets at sea and on land Tomahawk is vitally needed and ready now.