US Navy Moves To Build New Tomahawk Missile That Comes With Unknown Price Tag

The U.S. Navy is preparing to manufacture a new bunker-busting version of its Tomahawk cruise missile, but the military has yet to disclose how much the upgraded weapon will cost.

The Navy intends to award defense contractor Raytheon a contract to produce the Joint Multiple Effects Warhead System (JMEWS) for the Tomahawk Block Vb, without disclosing the contract’s value, production quantity or delivery schedule, according to an Oct. 7 notice published by Naval Air Systems Command. The new warhead is designed to penetrate underground bunkers and other fortified military targets, while a standard Block V Tomahawk already costs approximately $3.64 million per missile, according to the Navy.

The planned contract would move JMEWS from engineering and manufacturing development into low-rate initial production. The Navy has not disclosed the proposed contract’s production quantity or delivery schedule, according to the contracting notice.

Raytheon did not respond to a request for comment.

The new warhead combines explosive fragmentation with improved penetration capabilities, allowing the missile to attack a wider variety of military targets. The Navy has identified hardened structures, such as bunkers, as a principal target category for the upgraded weapon, according to its fiscal 2027 budget documents.

Traditional Tomahawks are primarily designed to strike distant land targets using conventional explosives.

Tomahawks can be launched from naval surface vessels and submarines, allowing American forces to strike targets without placing aircraft directly over enemy territory. The missiles fly at low altitudes and high subsonic speeds, according to the Navy.

American warships have repeatedly fired Tomahawk missiles at Iran during Operation Epic Fury, including a June 10 strike in which the USS Michael Murphy launched cruise missiles against Iranian targets, according to U.S. Central Command. The USS Spruance also fired Tomahawks on February 28, the opening day of the war, according to CENTCOM.

American strikes have targeted Iranian ballistic missile sites, air defenses and weapons storage bunkers, demonstrating the strategic importance of destroying fortified military infrastructure, according to CENTCOM.