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BlueWaveNeverEnd

(13,771 posts)
Sun Mar 1, 2026, 06:13 PM 7 hrs ago

Trump is burning through the stockpile of Tomahawk missiles

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ar-AA1XiEP1

The US burned through more of its limited Tomahawk stockpile in strikes on Iran. It might need them in a war with China

The US fired Tomahawk cruise missiles as part of its strikes on Iran on Saturday.
Tomahawks have been used heavily in recent conflicts, raising concerns about stockpile strains.

The missiles would be crucial in a conflict with an adversary like China.

US Navy warships fired Tomahawk missiles in their attack on Iran on Saturday, burning through more of the limited stockpile that American forces might need in a conflict with a well-armed adversary like China.

Tomahawks are cruise missiles whose long-range and precise targeting have made them a become a weapon of choice in recent US campaigns in the Middle East. They are also considered necessary for any potential high-intensity conflict in the Indo-Pacific, where long-range firepower is seen as critical.


US officials and experts have raised concerns that Tomahawk stockpiles are being drained after their use against targets in Nigeria, Yemen, Iran, and now Iran again — risking that the US might not have enough on hand should it go to war with an adversary like China.

There are, however, efforts underway to boost production. As part of a new agreement with the Pentagon, RTX Corporation said this month it would be working to increase annual Tomahawk production to over 1,000 missiles a year as part of a multi-year effort.

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SSJVegeta

(2,666 posts)
1. Getting rid of crucial support of defense contractors and federal employees right before a war
Sun Mar 1, 2026, 06:15 PM
7 hrs ago

...is definitely something somebody who claims to be a stable genius, would do.

FBaggins

(28,688 posts)
9. They didn't bring that many Marines with them
Sun Mar 1, 2026, 06:59 PM
6 hrs ago

Next in line will be precision munitions dropped from the 200+ attack aircraft. They don't need Tomahawks once air supremacy/dominance has been achieved.

JT45242

(3,982 posts)
4. Pedo prez will gat a kickback out of the new contract
Sun Mar 1, 2026, 06:18 PM
7 hrs ago

His palm will be greased to issue the new contract.

Create the need for the government to buy something so that you can get something out of the contract awarding process...pretty straightforward grift.

Wednesdays

(22,267 posts)
5. I dunno. If there is an all-out war with China,
Sun Mar 1, 2026, 06:19 PM
7 hrs ago

we'll have far bigger problems than whether we have enough Tomahawk missiles.

DJ Synikus Makisimus

(1,330 posts)
6. That's one way to prevent Ukraine from getting them,
Sun Mar 1, 2026, 06:27 PM
7 hrs ago

not to mention spiking his "domestic manufacturing" numbers by committing to replenish the stockpile. Betcha Raytheon's share price spikes soon.

OhioBlue

(5,155 posts)
7. RTX Corp PAC (formerly Raytheon Co PAC) contributes between $1 million - $2 million per election cycle
Sun Mar 1, 2026, 06:34 PM
7 hrs ago

toward house and senate races. The contributions as listed on opensecrets.org favor Republicans (some cycles 2:1, but some almost 50:50) They donate to house and senate races for members of both parties.

FBaggins

(28,688 posts)
10. Tomahawks are getting a bit long in the tooth for a conflict with China
Sun Mar 1, 2026, 07:03 PM
6 hrs ago

It has been around since the 80s.

Far more capable replacements (deployable from the same platforms) are supposed to enter service in a couple of years.

Maru Kitteh

(31,527 posts)
11. There'll be no war w/China. China will take Tiawan, Trump will let it happen
Sun Mar 1, 2026, 07:06 PM
6 hrs ago

without so much as an angry tweet.

Takket

(23,622 posts)
12. If we need missile defense...
Sun Mar 1, 2026, 07:11 PM
6 hrs ago

Drumpf will just tell the MAGA soldiers to fling themselves out of a catapult at them. While Kegseth slaps on the shoulder and tells them about “warrior ethos”.

dutch777

(5,019 posts)
14. Not only tomahawks, bombs and anti-air missiles too plus 1/3 of the Navy pinned down. China has a window here.
Sun Mar 1, 2026, 07:45 PM
5 hrs ago

I am sure most in the Pentagon leadership saw this and probably warned of consequences only to be overruled. A little known fact is that the main missiles the Navy uses-- tomahawks and the SM 2 vertical launch system-- cannot be reloaded at sea. So they shoot the wad and then have to skeedaddle or be sitting ducks for whatever missiles etc. the enemy can still throw at them. Yes, they have the Phalanx and other close in defensive systems but they can be exhausted too and are not 100% on stopping bad things from happening.

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