US to sharply increase production of Tomahawk cruise missiles
The U.S. Navy has signed a seven-year contract worth up to $22.9 billion with defense company Raytheon, part of RTX Corporation, for the production of Tomahawk cruise missiles. The agreement is meant to sharply increase output of one of the key American long-range weapons.
Reuters reports. The new contract is a continuation of framework agreements that the Pentagon and Raytheon reached in February 2026 amid growing demand for precision munitions and the need to replenish American stockpiles.
Under the program, the company is to bring annual Tomahawk production to more than 1,000 missiles. Before the large-scale expansion of production capacity for the U.S. armed forces, about 60 such missiles were produced per year. Thus, in the longer term, production rates are expected to increase more than 15-fold.
Raytheon has already accelerated deliveries. According to the company, in the first half of 2026 it delivered three times more Tomahawks than in the same period last year.
Raytheon President Phil Jasper said the company is investing heavily in personnel, technology, supply chains and production capacity. The main expansion of Tomahawk output is taking place at the company's plant in Tucson, Arizona.
Back in February, RTX said the increase in Tomahawk production is part of a broader Pentagon program. It also includes accelerated production of AMRAAM missiles and the Standard Missile family, including SM-3 and SM-6. Production of these systems is planned to be expanded at Raytheon plants in Arizona, Alabama and Massachusetts.
The U.S. need for new missiles has grown markedly after the intensive use of precision weapons in military operations in recent years. American weapons stockpiles have come under additional pressure because of the war with Iran, during which U.S. forces used Tomahawks to strike targets on Iranian territory.
Tomahawk is a subsonic long-range cruise missile. Its naval variants are launched from surface ships and submarines, and certain modifications can be used from ground-based launchers. According to RTX, the missile's range is about 1,000 miles, or roughly 1,600 km.
The company also produces the Maritime Strike Tomahawk, designed inter alia to hit moving maritime targets. U.S. and allied armed forces have conducted more than 550 test launches of Tomahawk family missiles and have used them in combat more than 2,300 times.
The production expansion comes amid a broader U.S. program to rebuild ammunition stockpiles. The Pentagon is moving to long-term contracts that guarantee manufacturers demand for several years and allow companies to invest in new factory lines, equipment and component suppliers.
