Beijing has repeatedly tested boundaries in the Indo-Pacific region where it contests multiple land and sea borders with several neighbouring nations.
The bubbling tensions have resulted in increased military personnel being deployed by both China and the US.
The USS Dewey destroyer ship recently performed navigational rights and freedoms in the South China Sea as an act of defiance against recent Chinese aggression.
In addition to deploying the MST, the US is set to arm allies in the region with various anti-ship missiles.
The precision weapon was dubbed a “game changer” by Admiral Daryl Caudle, the commander of the U.S. Fleet Forces Command.
Meanwhile, Whipkey revealed the weapon is likely to be available for deployment on nuclear-powered attack submarines in the third quarter of the next fiscal year.
There are currently two variants of the Tomahawk in service: the Block IV and Block V – both designed for land-attack operations.
The Block V is a recertified and modernized Block IV missile with upgraded navigation and communication systems, says Raytheon.