US Navy to Invest $22.9 Billion in Tomahawk Missile Production
The US Navy has awarded a $22.9 billion contract to Raytheon to increase the production of Tomahawk missiles, aiming to produce over 1,000 units per year.
La US Navy has awarded a $22.9 billion contract to Raytheon to increase the production of Tomahawk missiles. The contract, which will last for seven years, is part of the US government's efforts to expand the country's industrial capacity and accelerate the replacement of its arsenals.
According to the US Department of War, the agreement will allow for the gradual increase of Tomahawk production to exceed 1,000 units per year, up from the current rate of approximately 60 missiles per year. This initiative comes on top of the framework agreements reached in February between the US government and Raytheon to increase the production of various critical munition systems for the US Armed Forces.
## Tomahawk Missile Production to Increase Significantly
The contract includes the production of the Land Attack and Maritime Strike variants of the Tomahawk missile, a long-range cruise missile used by the US Navy from surface ships and submarines. Its ability to perform precision attacks at long distances has made it one of the primary long-range attack systems of the US Navy.
The decision to increase production comes in a context of growing pressure on US reserves of guided munitions. The increase in production aims not only to meet current operational needs but also to rebuild inventories and ensure greater availability of these systems in the face of possible high-intensity conflict scenarios.
## Production Targets and Timeline
| Variant | Current Production Rate | Target Production Rate | | --- | --- | --- | | Land Attack | 60 units/year | Over 1,000 units/year | | Maritime Strike | 60 units/year | Over 1,000 units/year |
This new agreement represents a significant change from the traditional production rate of the Tomahawk missile. According to RTX, the agreements established in February aimed to increase the annual production of the missile to over 1,000 units, along with increases in the production of other systems such as the AMRAAM and the SM-6.
In this way, the US is seeking to rapidly expand its capacity to produce long-range munitions, while Raytheon will need to increase the capacity of its facilities and supply chains to meet the projected volumes. The seven-year contract makes the Tomahawk one of the main programs within the US strategy to expand the production of armament and recover strategic stocks.
