Brose says US used years of Tomahawks in Iran, but math is rough

In short: A public comment that the US burned through “about eight years’ worth” of Tomahawk missiles in Iran reflects rough estimates, not an official number.

What's going on

Christian Brose, a defense executive, said on the New York Times video series “Interesting Times” that the US has fired “something like eight years’ worth of Tomahawk missile production” in the Iran war. The phrase is a shorthand, not a precise, government confirmed figure.

Why do people say “eight years”? Multiple reports have estimated the US fired over 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles in roughly the first month of the conflict. A cruise missile is a long range, guided weapon that flies like a small pilotless plane.

Analyses of Pentagon budget documents and CSIS data suggest the US typically buys about 90 Tomahawks per year in recent years. If you compare those two numbers, 850 missiles is about 9.4 years of normal buying. That is why you see phrasing like “eight to nine years’ worth” (like eating nine years of pantry staples in a few weeks).

The worry is not just cost, it is time. Commentators cite a per missile cost around $3.6 million and estimates that it can take up to two years to build one, which makes quick replacement hard. Estimates also put the starting stockpile at about 3,100 missiles, so firing hundreds in a short time can leave a noticeable gap.

What to watch

RTX, which makes Tomahawks, has said it plans to scale production to more than 1,000 per year over several years, and contract work to expand capacity runs out to 2028. Watch for what Congress funds next, including a Navy request reported as $3 billion for 785 missiles meant to replenish those used in Iran.

Source: NYTimes