Following years of development and testing the next generation transphasic missile, the TPM-2, has been cleared to enter service and will officially begin to be deployed on TPM-2 compatible ships from the beginning of December. The final release candidate TPM Release Candidate A4 successfully completed a number of tests last week.
Of course switchover to TPM-2 will be gradual as many ships still need to have TPM-2 launchers fitted and mass production of TPM-2 will also be a gradual process as the various factories switch over. Production will be retained of TPM-1 for some years yet as the DDS expect the missile to still be in service until around 2117 or 2118.
TPM-2 is smaller than TPM-1 but has higher performance, improved guidance and tracking, improved transphasic capabilities and other improvements. The key improvement is the reduced size which will mean ships will be able to carry more of them.
TPM-1 development is continuing for a few years as TPM-2 technology is transferred. TPM-1D3 is the latest version which includes some software improvements and a new leaner burn rocket based on the engine of the TPM-2.
