Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnews!cbnews!military
From: rqdms@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov (Dennis Stockert)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Tomahawk Guidance
Message-ID: <1991Feb4.051441.14112@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 4 Feb 91 05:14:41 GMT
References: <1991Jan22.022338.22603@cbnews.att.com>
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Lines: 26
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: rqdms@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov (Dennis Stockert)
In article <1991Jan22.022338.22603@cbnews.att.com>, faubert@cs.mcgill.ca (David FAUBERT) writes...
> 
>	Does anyone know about the oft mentioned Tomahawk's guidance
>system? I have heard that inertial guidance systems are not used, as
>they are not accurate enough over very long ranges. If the guidance is
>not inertial, what is it? Also, what kind of target recognition, if any,
>is employed by the missile while in flight. Any information would be
>appreciated.

This was just discussed in this group not long ago.  The Tomahawk uses a 
guidance system called TERCOM (TERrain COntour Matching) which compares the 
topography of the terrain over which it's flying to digital maps stored in 
the on-board computers.  It does this comparison periodically as it 
progresses along its flight path, and makes necessary guidance corrections 
accordingly.

***********************************************************************
* Dennis Stockert              *  Life is what happens to you while   *
* rqdms@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov   *  you're planning other things - Mom  *
***********************************************************************
*  No one that knows me would mistake my opinions for those of        *
*                 any respectable organization                        *
***********************************************************************