Raytheon Missiles & Fire Control builds most Tomahawk missiles for the U.S. Navy

Raytheon Missiles & Fire Control, a division of Raytheon Technologies, is the primary manufacturer of Tomahawk cruise missiles. The company produces them at facilities in Troy, Michigan, and Tucson, Arizona. Raytheon has held the main production contract since the 1980s and continues to manufacture new missiles and upgrade existing ones for the U.S. Navy fleet.

The Tomahawk program involves multiple contractors beyond Raytheon. General Dynamics supplies the rocket motor that propels the missile. Northrop Grumman provides guidance and navigation systems. Lockheed Martin contributes to various subsystems. This network of defense contractors means that a single Tomahawk missile contains components from several major aerospace and defense companies, each responsible for their portion of the design and manufacturing.

The U.S. Navy places orders for Tomahawks through the Department of Defense procurement process. Congress must approve funding for new production runs. When the Navy needs additional missiles or replacements for those that have been fired, the order flows through Raytheon's production lines, where workers assemble the airframe, integrate the engines and guidance systems, and conduct testing before delivery to the fleet.

Key Takeaways

  • Raytheon Missiles & Fire Control manufactures Tomahawk cruise missiles at facilities in Michigan and Arizona under contract with the U.S. Navy.
  • General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin supply major components including the rocket motor, guidance systems, and other subsystems.
  • Congress must approve funding for Tomahawk production, and the Navy places orders through the standard Department of Defense procurement process.
  • A single Tomahawk missile is the result of work by multiple contractors, each building and testing their assigned components before final assembly.

How the Tomahawk production contract works

Raytheon Missiles & Fire Control holds a multi-year contract with the U.S. Navy to produce Tomahawk missiles. The contract structure typically covers a set number of missiles over several years, with options for additional quantities. The Navy provides technical specifications and performance requirements, and Raytheon's engineers design the production process to meet those standards.

Production is not continuous at a fixed rate. Instead, the Navy orders missiles based on fleet needs, strategic planning, and congressional budget cycles. When missiles are fired in military operations, the Navy may request replacements. When the Navy wants to upgrade the fleet with newer variants, Raytheon adjusts production to build those versions. This means the number of missiles built each year varies depending on defense spending decisions and operational demands.

The role of subcontractors and component suppliers

No single company manufactures every part of a Tomahawk missile. General Dynamics builds the solid-rocket booster motor that provides the initial thrust. Northrop Grumman supplies the inertial measurement unit and other guidance components that help the missile navigate to its target. Lockheed Martin contributes to the warhead section and other structural elements. Each contractor specializes in their area of informed and delivers completed components to Raytheon for final assembly.

This division of labor reflects how modern defense manufacturing works. The prime contractor—in this case Raytheon—integrates all the pieces, manages quality control, and takes responsibility for the finished product. Subcontractors focus on their specific systems, which allows them to develop deep informed and maintain efficiency. The supply chain also spreads production across multiple states, which has political and economic implications for the defense industry.

Where Tomahawks are assembled and tested

Raytheon's Troy, Michigan facility is one of the main assembly locations for Tomahawk missiles. Workers there receive components from subcontractors, assemble the airframe sections, integrate the guidance systems, and install the rocket motor. The Tucson, Arizona facility also handles production and assembly work. Both locations have specialized equipment for precision manufacturing and testing.

Before a Tomahawk leaves the factory, it undergoes extensive testing. Engineers run ground tests to verify that the guidance system works correctly, that the rocket motor produces the expected thrust, and that all electronic systems respond as designed. Some missiles are also test-fired to confirm performance in actual flight conditions. This testing phase is critical because once a missile is loaded onto a Navy ship, there is no opportunity to repair it if something fails.

Congressional oversight and defense spending

The U.S. Congress controls funding for Tomahawk production through the annual defense budget. The Navy submits requests for a certain number of missiles, and Congress decides whether to approve that funding. This means that production levels depend partly on military strategy and partly on political decisions about defense spending priorities.

Congress also holds hearings where military leaders and defense officials explain why they need additional Tomahawks and what the missiles cost. The price per missile varies depending on the variant and production volume, but Congress receives detailed cost breakdowns before approving spending. This oversight is meant to may support that taxpayer money is spent on systems the military actually needs.

Variants and upgrades over time

The Tomahawk missile has been in production since the 1980s, but the design has changed significantly over the decades. Early versions used different guidance systems than modern ones. Newer variants incorporate GPS and improved navigation technology. Some versions are designed to strike land targets, while others are optimized for hitting ships at sea.

When the Navy wants to upgrade the fleet, Raytheon engineers redesign components to incorporate new technology. This might mean a new guidance computer, an improved rocket motor, or a different warhead configuration. The upgraded missile still carries the Tomahawk name, but it performs differently than older versions. Production shifts to build the new variant, and older missiles in the fleet may eventually be retired or upgraded themselves.

The defense industrial base and national security

Tomahawk production is considered part of the U.S. defense industrial base—the network of companies that design and manufacture military equipment. The government treats this as a national security matter. Raytheon and its subcontractors must follow strict security protocols, including background checks for employees who work on classified systems and find facilities where sensitive work takes place.

The government also has rules about which countries can receive Tomahawk missiles or technology related to them. The missiles are not sold to other nations without special approval, and the technology is protected from being shared with foreign companies. This reflects the strategic importance of cruise missiles in military planning and the concern that the technology could be misused if it spread to countries the U.S. government considers hostile.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a single Tomahawk missile cost?

The cost varies depending on the variant and production volume. Older estimates ranged from $500,000 to over $1 million per missile, but current prices depend on the specific model being built and the size of the production contract. Congress receives detailed cost information when approving funding, but the exact current price is not always made public.

Can other countries buy Tomahawk missiles?

The U.S. government controls exports of Tomahawk missiles and related technology. A small number of allied nations have received them through formal agreements, but sales are rare and require government approval. Most Tomahawks are built exclusively for the U.S. Navy.

How long does it take to build a Tomahawk missile?

The manufacturing timeline depends on production volume and facility capacity. Building the individual components takes weeks, and final assembly and testing add additional time. A complete production run for an order of missiles typically takes several months to over a year, depending on how many missiles are being built.

What happens to old Tomahawk missiles?

Missiles that reach the end of their service life are either retired or refurbished. Some older missiles may be upgraded with new guidance systems or other components to extend their usefulness. Missiles that cannot be safely maintained are decommissioned and disposed of according to military and environmental regulations.

Does Raytheon build Tomahawks for any other country's military?

Raytheon builds Tomahawks primarily for the U.S. Navy under contract. While the company does work with allied nations on other defense projects, Tomahawk production is restricted to U.S. government orders due to the missile's strategic importance and export control regulations.