The newspaper Washington Post reported that U.S. Navy ships and submarines launched more than 850 Tomahawk missiles against Iran in the first four weeks of Operation Epic Fury. This is more than the entire stockpile used in the US military operation in Iraq in 2003.
For the think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), replenishing the stock after the current campaign will take time, which creates a short-term risk for the United States.
Tomahawk missiles used in US military campaigns
According to the study center, these 850 missiles would correspond to around half of the launchers available in the region — which include two submarines launching guided missiles with Multiple “All-Up-Round” Canisters, in addition to destroyers with vertical launch system (VLS) cells.
As VLS cells are also loaded with other types of missiles — for example, those used in air defense — this quantity could represent the majority of Tomahawks operating in the area.
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An additional problem is that these launchers cannot be refueled at sea. Ships would need to return to a port with the necessary infrastructure once they run out of missiles.
Information is that the US Navy is expected to receive 110 Tomahawks in fiscal year 2026. Existing stocks are estimated to be in the low range of 3,000 missiles. Although there are sufficient munitions to fight the ongoing war, the high consumption of Tomahawks and other missiles in Operation Epic Fury creates risks for the United States in other theaters of operation—particularly in the Western Pacific.
Tomahawks are highly capable, long-range missiles that have been widely used in US warfare since the First Gulf War. They remain a key munition for possible future wars, including a conflict in the Western Pacific.
It is also highlighted by the think tank that Tomahawks are expensive, costing $3.6 million per shot, according to the Navy’s most recent budget documents.
