One of the Pentagon’s most reliable weapons: the Tomahawk as the spearhead against Iran
The United States has so far used hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles against Iran, according to two informed sources — a figure several times higher than what the U.S. military purchases annually to replenish its stockpile.
One of the sources told CBS News that more than 850 missiles have been used so far in the conflict, roughly nine times the number the Pentagon buys on average each year.
Maximum production capacity is estimated at about 2,330 missiles per year: three contracts with Raytheon Technologies allowing 600 missiles per contract, and one contract with BAE Systems to produce up to 530 missiles annually, according to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies based on Pentagon budget documents.
However, the actual purchasing rate by the U.S. military is around 90 missiles per year, according to the same center. The U.S. Navy requested only 57 missiles for fiscal year 2026, according to Department of Defense documents.
The Pentagon’s total Tomahawk inventory is estimated at about 3,100 missiles, according to Kelley Grieco, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center, who added: “We have recognized that we lack sufficient long-range strike capacity, so we are trying to build these stockpiles, but we continue to consume them.”
Raytheon (RTX) recently announced a framework agreement with the Department of Defense to expand production to 1,000 missiles per year for the United States over several years.
Tomahawk within an advanced arsenal
Democratic Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said U.S. forces have launched “thousands of Tomahawk missiles, precision strike missiles, and other long-range offensive weapons against Iran, while also making extensive use of Patriot, THAAD, and Standard systems.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added that the United States is working to strengthen its defense industrial base to accelerate the production of critical munitions.
He continued: “We are revitalizing our defense industrial base and rebuilding the arsenal of freedom,” stressing that new contracts will reduce “long wait times for advanced weapons.”
Although no official total is available, it is estimated that the U.S. military has fired around 1,000 Tomahawk missiles or more since June 2025 during strikes on Iran, as well as in operations in Yemen, the Red Sea, Nigeria, and other conflicts, according to journalistic estimates and weapons experts.
Current and future missile production
Tomahawk missile production has struggled to keep pace with increased usage. In recent years, the industry produced only dozens to a few hundred annually under normal procurement cycles — far below what can be expended even in a short, intense conflict.
Officials and analysts note that the constraints are not only financial but structural, within an industrial base designed for predictable demand rather than rapid wartime expansion.
Recent Department of Defense notices show efforts to increase production capacity. RTX announced last month that annual production would exceed 1,000 missiles under new agreements, but this is a multi-year process rather than an immediate surge for an ongoing war.
According to a contract issued in September 2025, Raytheon received funding for engineering development to increase production capacity of the All Up Round Tomahawk missiles, with completion expected by March 2028.
What is the Tomahawk missile and who uses it militarily?
The Tomahawk cruise missile is launched from destroyers and submarines.
It can fly more than 1,000 miles and strike targets with high precision, even against objectives protected by advanced air defense systems.
It was developed during the Cold War and continuously upgraded since, becoming one of the Pentagon’s most reliable long-range weapons.
The missile is primarily operated by the U.S. Navy.
It has also been adopted in recent years by the Marine Corps and the Army as part of the shift toward long-range precision weapons.
Allies also use it, including the British Royal Navy. There is no evidence that Iran uses or has acquired Tomahawk missiles.
According to Pentagon data, the Tomahawk has been flight-tested more than 550 times and used in over 2,300 strikes, according to Raytheon. From conflicts in Iraq to Syria, and more recently in U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran, the Tomahawk is often the first choice for striking distant or heavily protected targets without putting pilots at risk.
Cost of Tomahawk missiles
The cost varies depending on the version purchased. The missile itself costs about $2.2 million, while the ground launcher exceeds $6 million.
Naval guided versions launched from destroyers or submarines cost more than $4 million each and can strike moving ships.
