Navy Scrambles To Ramp Up Tomahawk Production After Iran War Burns Through Arsenal

Francis Kapper Defense Reporter November 12, 2026 5:40 PM ET November 12, 2026 5:40 PM ET Francis Kapper Defense Reporter Font Size: The U.S. Navy is racing to ramp up production of Tomahawk cruise missiles, offensive weapons used to strike enemy targets, after the Iran war consumed an estimated third of America’s prewar stockpile.Naval engineers at China Lake, California, are expanding warhead manufacturing capabilities to prevent production bottlenecks as the military attempts to replenish its depleted arsenal of long-range strike weapons, according to a Nov. 9 Navy report. The initiative supports a seven-year, $22.9 billion contract awarded to Raytheon in August, intended to increase annual production to more than 1,000 missiles, according to RTX.Unlike defensive missile interceptors, Tomahawks are offensive weapons designed to destroy enemy targets rather than protect American forces from incoming attacks.

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