Navy awards Raytheon $22.9B to boost Tomahawk production

The U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon a $22.9 billion, multi-year contract to accelerate production of Tomahawk cruise missiles, aiming to build more than 1,000 of the long-range strike weapons a year.

The Department of War announced the award Monday as part of its “Arsenal of Freedom” initiative to expand weapons production.

“This landmark $22.9 billion investment will accelerate Tomahawk missile delivery to our warfighters at unprecedented speed,” said Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao.

Raytheon, an RTX business, said the contract supports increasing annual output to more than 1,000 Tomahawks and that it is investing in its workforce, supply chain and facilities to meet demand.

“Tomahawk is the Navy’s most important strike weapon, able to target hostile forces hundreds of miles away without ever risking the lives of our sailors,” Raytheon President Phil Jasper said.

The contract comes as the U.S. works to rebuild a depleted arsenal. American forces have expended about a third of...