Pentagon Orders $22.9 Billion in Tomahawk Missiles to Speed Up Production Amid Shortages

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Raytheon a $22.9 billion contract to accelerate the production of Tomahawk cruise missiles. This significant investment aims to bolster U.S. military readiness and replenish stockpiles, particularly in the context of ongoing conflicts and reported munitions shortages. The contract is designed to increase the delivery of these long-range missiles, which are primarily launched from submarines or ships and can strike targets over 1,600 kilometers away, to American forces at an unprecedented pace. Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Acquisition and Sustainment, Hung Cao, stated that ensuring naval and joint forces have the necessary lethal firepower to deter aggression and protect the homeland is essential. He added that this historic investment will speed up Tomahawk deliveries to warfighters. While the Pentagon denies widespread shortages, an analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in July indicated that U.S. reserves of interceptor missiles (though Tomahawks are not interceptors) have been significantly depleted since the start of the war in Iran. The CSIS report noted that U.S. stocks of Patriot interceptors and THAAD systems may have been halved since the conflict began on February 28. In July, the Defense Department also announced a separate seven-year, $58.6 billion contract with Lockheed Martin for the production of Patriot missiles.

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Ensuring our naval and joint forces have the lethal firepower they need to deter any aggression and protect the homeland is essential.