Nuclear-powered HMS Astute fires its first Tomahawk
missilepgWired UK  The Royal Navy's latest attack submarine, the
next-generation HMS Astute, has demonstrated its might by firing
its first Tomahawk missile across the Gulf of Mexico and into a
target in the United States. Just for testing, you understand,
not because we've suddenly declared war on America.  The Astute
Class of submarines can fire the 5.5-metre-long cruise missiles
at speeds of 550 miles per hour, and shoot them more than 1,000
miles in range -- that's more than the entire length of the
United Kingdom.  Plus, with the largest weapon-carrying capacity
of all the Royal Navy's attack submarines, the new Astute Class
can hold a combination of up to 38 Tomahawk missiles and
Spearfish torpedoes.  This new generation of subs will
progressively replace the Trafalgar Class, which are currently
in service. The monster 97 metre-long craft is built entirely in
Britain, and is constructed by UK defense corporation BAE
Systems.  It's kitted out with some