The US Navy has successfully completed the first live test of the joint multi-effects warhead system (JMEWS), the new warhead for the Tomahawk block IV tactical cruise missile.

The JMEWS programme is designed to deliver a warhead that will provide blast-fragmentation capabilities to the missile and to introduce enhanced penetration capabilities into a single warhead.

Raytheon’s Tomahawk programme director Gary Hagedon said the Tomahawk block IV missile includes a series of enhancements to provide the warfighter with a more capable system.

“JMEWS is the first of the planned system enhancements, and this test demonstrates that we have the right team in place to deliver these capabilities,” he said.

The warhead detonated during the test conducted on 16 August 2010.