The US has increased its export orders for Tomahawk Block V missiles by 2.5 times.
The Pentagon is expanding its contract with Raytheon to produce 350 Tomahawk Block V missiles worth $785.2 million, primarily to meet the needs of allied nations.
The United States has decided to significantly increase its order for Tomahawk Block V cruise missiles from Raytheon, raising the number from 131 to 350 units. According to an announcement posted on the Pentagon's official website, this adjustment increases the total number of missiles by more than 2.5 times compared to the original plan.
The revised contract is valued at a total of $785.2 million. The new order includes not only additional missiles but also related equipment for the U.S. Navy, Army, and Marine Corps. Notably, a large portion of the order is being fulfilled under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program to supply international customers.
Financial structure and export priorities
The missiles in this order are expected to begin deliveries in January 2029. An analysis of funding reveals a significant disparity between domestic and foreign customer needs. Specifically, the U.S. military branches are contributing a total of approximately $252 million, including: the Navy ($48 million), the Army ($122 million), and the Marine Corps ($82 million).
Meanwhile, international customers are expected to finance nearly $500 million of the total cost of the order. With this budget contribution, experts believe that the majority of the Tomahawk Block V missiles in the new contract are intended for export. Although the full list of specific customers has not been released, Japan and the Netherlands are two countries that have been approved by the US to purchase this missile, while Germany is also expressing significant interest.
Production capacity and tactical importance
The production and system integration for these 350 missiles will take place at more than 10 different locations across the United States. Notably, some critical engineering processes will also be carried out in the United Kingdom, a strategic partner of the US in this weapons development program.
The Tomahawk Block V is the latest version of the renowned cruise missile, featuring significant upgrades to its guidance system and its ability to operate in environments with strong electronic jamming. The US's increased export of this variant demonstrates its efforts to enhance long-range precision strike capabilities for close allies amidst a volatile global geopolitical landscape.