U.S. Navy Accelerates Tomahawk Missile Production for 2027

The U.S. Navy is accelerating production of Tomahawk cruise missiles to meet urgent inventory demands. A contract modification, detailed in a September 2 notice, will see General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems manufacture and deliver warhead housings within nine months.

This accelerated schedule is directly due to immediate demand for increased missile production resulting from current international conflict, according to the contract document. The move use an existing 2019 contract for SLAM-ER cruise missiles to avoid long lead times for new contracts.

Production Acceleration Details

The Navy is adding Tomahawk warhead casing production to the legacy SLAM-ER contract with General Dynamics. The contract states that first article inspections must begin no later than the first quarter of calendar year 2027 to meet the required delivery date for the first assets.

General Dynamics possesses the requisite knowledge, expertise, and technical experience to meet this urgent missile delivery schedule, the contract adds. The newly delivered warhead housings will be used in the production of missile warhead sections for the U/RGM-109E Tactical Tomahawk (TACTOM).

Context of Inventory Demands

The push for faster production comes as the U.S. Navy has fired hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles at targets in Iran since the start of Operation Epic Fury. Concerns over remaining stockpiles have dominated discussions about the United States' ability to sustain a wider conflict, notably in the Indo-Pacific region.

This acceleration is part of a broader pattern of replenishing expended munitions. The Pentagon has already signed frameworks with major defense companies to speed up production of other key weapons, including the Navy's SM-3 anti-ballistic missile and the Army's PAC-3 MSE interceptor.

Contract and Manufacturing Strategy

Modifying the existing SLAM-ER contract instead of awarding a new one allows the Navy and prime contractor Raytheon faster access to critical subcomponents. The strategy avoids the lengthy processes required to qualify a secondary warhead source.

The warhead casings built by General Dynamics will be installed on both newly built and recertified Block IV and Block V Tomahawk missiles. Naval News reported that it reached out to the U.S. Navy and General Dynamics for comment, but neither responded prior to publication.

General Dynamics builds warhead casings for both the SLAM-ER and Tactical Tomahawk missiles for the U.S. Navy.