Pentagon signs major contract with RTX for Tomahawk Block V cruise missiles

The contract, valued at USD 401.2 million, is expected to be completed by March 2028. An initial tranche of $31.6 million, including $21.5 million from export customers, has already been allocated at the time of signing.

Under the agreement, 131 RGM-109 Tomahawk Block V missiles will be supplied. Of these, 26 are destined for the U.S. Navy, 16 for the U.S. Marine Corps, 11 for Australia, and 78 for Japan. Both Australia and Japan are new users of the Tomahawk missile system.

While the specific timeline for Australia’s government-to-government agreement remains undisclosed, Japan’s Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) was formalised in January 2024. In both nations, the missiles will be deployed on surface vessels equipped with Mk 41 vertical launch systems.

Australia has already demonstrated its capability with the Tomahawk system, conducting a test launch of the Block IV variant from the HMAS Brisbane (DDG 41) on 9 December. This marks an important step in integrating the advanced weapon into its defence systems.

Geopolitical shifts could see the Tomahawk expanding to other export markets, with Canada and the Netherlands among the potential buyers. The UK may also consider purchasing additional missiles for use on surface vessels. For the U.S. military, the RGM-109 Tomahawk remains a critical component of mobile missile launcher systems.