U.S. Tomahawks are being used in Iran war faster than stockpile is being refilled

Key Points:

• The U.S. has used over 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles against Iran, nearly nine times the annual procurement rate of about 90 missiles, highlighting significant stockpile depletion amid ongoing conflicts.
• The Pentagon's total Tomahawk inventory is estimated at around 3,100 missiles, with production capacity currently limited but planned to scale up to over 1,000 missiles annually through new contracts with Raytheon.
• Tomahawk missiles, primarily launched from Navy destroyers and submarines, are highly precise long-range weapons used extensively in conflicts from Iraq to recent strikes involving Iran, costing approximately $2.2 million each.
• The U.S. military has fired thousands of advanced long-range munitions, including Tomahawks and Precision Strike Missiles, while defense officials emphasize efforts to rebuild the defense industrial base to accelerate munitions production.
• Despite increased production plans, current manufacturing rates remain insufficient for high-intensity conflicts, with expansion efforts expected to take several years rather than providing immediate replenishment.