U.S. Navy and RTX speed critical munitions production with Tomahawk award

The Department of the Navy said it has awarded a $22.9 billion contract to Raytheon, an RTX business, to accelerate production of Tomahawk cruise missiles, according to a statement issued Wednesday.

“This landmark $22.9 billion investment accelerates the delivery of Tomahawk missiles to our warfighters at unprecedented speed,” said Cao. “By working closely with industry to expand the capacity of our munitions industrial base, the Department is utilizing every available tool to meet the demands of current operations, guaranteeing our naval and joint forces have the lethal firepower they need to deter aggression and protect the homeland.”

The announcement says the deal is meant to shorten procurement lead times and support rapid fielding goals. It also frames the award as part of a broader shift in Navy acquisition toward faster, more integrated weapons delivery in partnership with industry.

“The Department has challenged industry to answer the call to expand munitions production and capacity, and RTX has answered,” said Michael P. Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment. “This contract accelerates our ability to get Warfighters what they need, ensuring they never have to face a fair fight.”

The release credits the effort’s strategic direction to an organization it identifies as Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) Munitions, led by Van Hendrey, which it says is consolidating key weapons programs and aligning the industrial base to boost output, stabilize supply chains, and expand the munitions workforce.

The Navy did not disclose quantities, delivery schedules, or the specific contract vehicle. The statement repeatedly refers to the “Department of War” and an “Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment,” titles not used by the modern Pentagon; the department is commonly referred to as the Department of Defense, which has an Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. Some details in the announcement could not be immediately verified.

Tomahawk is the Navy’s long-range, sea-launched cruise missile used for land-attack missions and, in its latest Maritime Strike Tomahawk configuration, to engage moving targets at sea. The weapon, produced by Raytheon, has been fielded by U.S. surface ships and submarines for decades and is being upgraded under the Block V program. U.S. allies, including the United Kingdom and Japan, have also moved to procure Tomahawks. RTX, Raytheon’s parent company, is one of the Pentagon’s largest prime contractors.