On 30 December 2024, the US Department of Defense has awarded Raytheon a contract worth $31,1 million for the supply of long lead components needed to recertify and modernize 257 TOMAHAWK Block IV All-Up-Round Missiles, of which 218 for the US Navy and 39 for “Foreign Military Sales”.

While the US announcement does not specify the identity of the FMS customer, we know the United Kingdom is the only existing user of Block IV TOMAHAWK with an ongoing program, formalized in 2022, for the mid-life recertification and modernization, to Block V, of its existing arsenal.

The £265 million program to re-certify the UK torpedo-tube launch TLAMs as Block V rounds was publicly announced in 2022. The upgrade, which re-certifies missiles at their 15-year, mid-life point and rebuilds them into the latest configuration, will obviously be carried out in batches so the ASTUTE-class SSNs are not left without weapons.

A first batch of 24 missiles was contracted in March 2024. The UK stock of TOMAHAWKs is believed to hover around 65 rounds, although the precise number is not declared. The small number of missiles is due to a combination of factors: TOMAHAWK was originally procured as a conventionally-armed missiles intended to “complement” the nuclear-tipped TRIDENT as part of the strategic deterrent. Ever since, TLAM has obviously been used repeatedly in tactical strikes (Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria) but occasions to expand the stock are strictly limited as UK rounds are encapsulated missiles for torpedo tube launch.

This particular variant is not currently in production and was only made in the US for the 3 SEAWOLF-class submarines, with submarine vertical-launch (Capsule Launch System, CLS) being far more common. Speaking of the CLS variant, it too went temporarily out of production as the US Navy last purchased Block IV CLS in FY2014. This very contract however includes 11 MK45 missile capsule launch systems to re-start production from 2026.

The US Navy has acquired no new-build TOMAHAWK rounds at all in FY 2024 and has requested zero in FY 2025 as well; it plans to resume buys from 2026 with 10 rounds. US Army, USMC orders plus the recent export to Japan and Australia keep the TOMAHAWK production line going in the meanwhile.

This contract also includes the acquisition of 24 Maritime Strike Tomahawk kits (seeker head, primarily) to rebuild as many missiles into Block Va weapons capable of anti-ship long range strikes. This will support FY 2025 plans: in its budget request for 2025, the US Navy has included the re-certification and upgrade of 200 Tomahawks into baseline Block V rounds; 50 recertifications into Block Va anti-ship capable rounds and 2 recertifications into Block Vb JMEWS rounds (Joint Multi- Effects Warhead System) which introduce a new warhead combining existing blast and fragmentation with a new penetration capability and improved mission planning for improved anti-bunker effect.

At present there are 77 Block Va missiles in order, which will be assembled over the next few years (work started in FY 2024 with MST kits procured in FY 2023 and prior). Kits for the upgrade and recertification are bought years in advance.

FY 2025 re-certifications will use kits procured in previous years; and 2025 in turn funds 111 Block V “baseline” (navigation and communication) kits for Block V rebuilds, 32 Maritime Strike kits for Block Va and 5 Block Vb JMEWS kits. The latter will support the planned achievement of Initial Operational Capability for Block Vb JMEWS in FY 2027.

Separately, all missiles are also fitted with a GPS Military Code (M-Code) kit that integrates a new Anti-Jam GPS Receiver (AGR) hardware and software. It is not clear at this stage if any of the UK rounds will be rebuilt as Block Va or Vb.

A Block Va acquisition would restore long range-antiship missile capability the UK SSNs lost in 2003 with the withdrawal of the last Sub-HARPOONs.

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