NAWCWD expands Tomahawk warhead production capacity

The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) is increasing its capacity to produce Tomahawk warheads to support accelerated missile production. Following a $22.9 billion Navy contract awarded to Raytheon in August, NAWCWD has successfully completed the filling of seven first-article Tomahawk warheads for inspection.

To meet production goals, the facility recently inaugurated a new 300-gallon mixer in its rebuilt Motor Assembly Compound. This equipment is expected to be online by June 2027, allowing the team to reach necessary production rates and ensure timely deliveries to the fleet.

Officials noted that maintaining an adequate stockpile of Tomahawk missiles is critical for national defense against peer or near-peer adversaries. The initiative involves coordination between Navy labs at China Lake and the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division in Maryland to manage long lead times for key materials and updated technical specifications.