April 19, 2026: In March the United States Navy launched 850 Tomahawk missiles against Iran. This was the largest number of these missiles ever used in a military operation. Previously only 802 missiles were used during the 2003 Iraq war and 325 in 1998 for operations against Libya. The current high usage could be a problem because only a few hundred of these missiles are manufactured each year. The missiles cost over $3 million each and take about 20 months to build. Last year only 57 Tomahawks were delivered. About 200 are on order for delivery in 2027. Increasing production requires several years to build the production facilities and obtain all the explosive and other materials required.

While the exact number of missiles still available is classified, it is believed that only 3,000 missiles are held in service. That might not be enough to defend Taiwan in a war with China.

These 1.3 ton missiles are 5.56 meters long and have a 310 kg warhead containing 120 kg of high explosives. Top speed is 920 kilometers an hour and maximum range is classified but believed to be nearly 2,000 kilometers. They are launched from shipborne VLS/Vertical Launch System tubes used by American and many foreign navies. China is planning a new surface warship with 200 VLS cells.

The current version, the Block IV Tactical Tomahawk, can be used against enemy ships and can loiter until a target is identified. This missile can detect targets and calculate how best to attack.

One of the most effective delivery systems for Tomahawk are the four SSGN/Cruise Missile Firing Nuclear submarines. These are Ohio class SSBNs converted to carry 154 missiles with additional space for a detachment of SEAL commandos and their equipment. Another effective delivery system is the Virginia Class SSN/Attack Submarine.

Then there’s the new Tomahawk. The RGM-109E Block IV Surface Ship Vertical Launched Tomahawk Land Attack Missile weighs 1.2 tons, is six meters long, has a range of 1,600 kilometers, a speed of 600-900 kilometers an hour, flying at an altitude of 17-32 meters and propelled by a jet engine generating only 600 pounds of thrust. Accuracy of ten meters is on a par with JDAM guided bombs. The Block IV Tomahawk can be reprogrammed in flight to hit another target and carries a vidcam to allow a missile to check on prospective targets.

The latest class of Virginia has additional space to store and launch missiles and can carry 65 missiles and torpedoes, 75 percent more than earlier Virginias. This is accomplished by adding a VPM/Virginia Payload Module to the current design. This adds 25.6 meters to the length of the sub and increases displacement to 10,400 tons. The VPM adds four more large launch tubes that can hold different sizes of missiles. For example, each of the launch tubes can carry seven Tomahawk cruise missiles or a smaller number of new missile designs in development, like the hypersonic missile. Earlier Virginias have their vertical launch tubes forward of the sail\conning tower. The VPM is added behind the sail. The VPM design was not ready when the first block 5 began construction so the first two Block 5s will lack the VPM and be the same size as earlier Virginias. These two Block 5s will have all the other additional features common to all Block 5s. This includes improved electronics and sensors, and it is believed that the passive sonar in these model Virginias have much longer and more accurate detection ranges. Block 5 will also receive a large number of other equipment upgrades.

The additional missile capacity of Block 5 and subsequent Virginias is also meant to replace the cruise missile capacity being lost as the four Ohio-Class SSGNs are retired. The success of the Ohio SSGNs led to the VPM, although it will require 22 VPM equipped Virginias to replace the Tomahawk carrying capacity of the SSGNs. This was seen as an advantage because there were few instances where an SSGN had to fire all or most of their Tomahawks. The VPM does not turn Virginia into an SSGN because all Virginias are still attack boats.