U.S. Navy accelerates Tomahawk production citing current international conflict

September 6, 2026 at 05:15 PM2 min

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The U.S. Navy is accelerating Tomahawk cruise missile production through a modification to a 2019 SLAM-ER contract, citing immediate demand from current international conflict. General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems will manufacture and deliver warhead housings within nine months for U/RGM-109E TACTOM missiles. The move aims to replenish stockpiles depleted by hundreds of Tomahawk strikes on Iran since Operation Epic Fury began.

Key Facts

The U.S. Navy is accelerating Tomahawk production through a modification to a 2019 SLAM-ER contract, with General Dynamics to deliver warhead housings within nine months.
The accelerated delivery is due to immediate demand for increased missile production for the U.S. Navy as a result of current international conflict.
The U.S. Navy has fired hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles at targets in Iran since the start of Operation Epic Fury.
First article inspections must begin no later than the first quarter of calendar year 2027 to meet the required delivery date.
The Pentagon has already signed frameworks with major defense companies to accelerate production of other key munitions, including the Navy's SM-3 and the Army's PAC-3 MSE interceptor.

Contract Modification

The U.S. Navy is adding a production modification to an existing 2019 contract for SLAM-ER cruise missiles to accelerate Tomahawk warhead casing production. A Sept. 2 contract notice states that General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems will manufacture and deliver warhead housings within nine months for use in U/RGM-109E TACTOM missile warhead sections. The accelerated delivery schedule is due to immediate demand for increased missile production for the United States Navy, as a result of current international conflict. General Dynamics builds warhead casings for both SLAM-ER and Tactical Tomahawks for the U.S. Navy. First article inspections must begin no later than the first quarter of calendar year 2027 to meet the required delivery date of the first assets.

Stockpile Replenishment

The U.S. Navy has fired hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles at targets in Iran since the start of Operation Epic Fury. Concerns over remaining stockpiles have dominated conversations around the United States' ability to sustain a wider conflict, most notably in the Indo-Pacific. The Pentagon has already signed frameworks with major defense companies—some contingent on congressional funding—to accelerate production of other key expended munitions, including the Navy's SM-3 anti-ballistic missile and the Army's PAC-3 MSE interceptor. The newly delivered warheads will be installed on both newly built and recertified Block IV/V Tomahawk missiles.