The American military is said to have fired 850 Tomahawk missiles at Iran in the past month. This pace could quickly deplete the stock of this key weapon in the US military arsenal.
According to sources cited by the Washington Post, more than 850 Tomahawk missiles have been fired in a month, with most launched in the early days of Operation Epic Fury against Iran a month ago. This rapid rate of fire poses a risk to the availability of these essential missiles in the American military due to their long range (about 1600 km).
The American industry produces only a few hundred Tomahawk missiles each year. This limited production may not be sufficient to sustain long-term military efforts. The Pentagon has not publicly disclosed the exact number of missiles in stock, but a source described the stock as “alarming.”
Deployed since the early 1980s, the Tomahawk remains a crucial weapon in the American arsenal. It was first used in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 during the Gulf War and was recently utilized in American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last June. Over the past four decades, the US has launched over 2300 Tomahawk missiles.
A shortage of these missiles could have serious consequences for the US, especially with potential engagements in other conflicts in the coming months or years. The American administration is considering sending an additional 10,000 troops to Iran, in addition to the existing airborne troops and Marines.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stated that the US aims to achieve its objectives in Iran within “two weeks.” However, if the conflict persists, Washington may need to ramp up missile production, which takes time and money.
Manufactured by the American company Raytheon, each Tomahawk missile costs between 1.5 to 2.5 million euros and can take up to two years to produce. Despite its subsonic cruise capabilities, flying below the speed of sound, its low-altitude trajectory makes it hard to detect and intercept. The latest generation of the missile, in service since 2021, allows for redirection after launch or circling around a target before striking.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell dismissed concerns about missile shortages, stating that the US military has the necessary resources to carry out any mission specified by the President. He criticized the media for portraying the world’s most powerful military as weak but did not disclose the current availability of missiles.
