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The US used Tomahawk cruise missiles extensively in the war with Iran. It is considered an important weapon in the American weapons arsenal.
According to the Washington Post, more than 850 missiles were fired in four weeks. It is estimated that the US Navy had approximately 4,000 Tomahawk missiles.
If this is true then about a quarter of the Tomahawk missiles have been destroyed. Concern regarding this has increased within the Defense Ministry. It can take about 2 years to make one Tomahawk. According to experts, it will take many years to make up the shortfall.
The US Navy’s guided missile destroyer USS Spruance fired a Tomahawk cruise missile during the military operation against Iran that began on February 28.
America has about 4000 Tomahawk missiles
Tomahawk is America’s special cruise missile. It can fly up to 1,000 miles (1,609 km) and drop 1,000 pounds (453 kg) of explosives accurately on the target. The range of its advanced version is 2500 km.
The first large-scale use of the Tomahawk occurred in the 1991 Gulf War. America fired hundreds of missiles at Iraq from a distance. It was called Remote War, because such accurate and long-range cruise missiles were used for the first time.
Tomahawk can also be fired from warships and submarines at sea, making it possible to attack without entering enemy territory. America has been attacking Iran for the last one month. This is a complete ‘stand-off strike’. That is, the attack was carried out from such a distance that American soldiers did not need to land.
According to experts’ estimates, America currently has around 4000 Tomahawk missiles. America and its allies are in great need of Tomahawk missiles amid increasing threats in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
If the war lasts longer, the US may run out of Tomahawks even for its own use, making it difficult to supply them to the allies.
America makes 600 Tomahawk missiles in a year
The US produces Tomahawk cruise missiles in very limited quantities. According to the current capacity, about 600 Tomahawk missiles can be made in a year.
The cost of one Tomahawk is around $36 lakh (Rs 34 crore), due to which the rapid use has increased the pressure on supply.
The problem is that a Tomahawk takes about 2 years to make, so it is not immediately available once ordered.
This is why when they are used rapidly in war, as happened in the recent Iran conflict, the stock depletes quickly and can take years to replenish.
Missile making deal with Japan stuck
A solution to the Tomahawk shortage appeared in 2024, when the US moved closer to joint production with Japan, which could double production.
The plan was that Japan would produce parts of the Tomahawk missile for America. Both countries would benefit from this. Japan is changing its defense policy and working towards developing long-range strike capability. This is the reason why he agreed to help in making the missile.
However, America had set many strict conditions for this partnership. Such as
- America will have complete control over the technology and design of missiles
- Japan will not be able to sell these missiles to any third country without America’s approval.
- Their use will also be subject to the prescribed terms and conditions.
- Transfer of sensitive technology will be limited
However, opposition to this deal started within America itself. Many leaders and experts in both parties feared that sharing advanced missile technology abroad could be risky. A senior official of Tomahawk manufacturing company RTX also joined this protest.
There was also concern that this would harm America’s defense industry and also affect the country’s economy. Because of this the plan could not be fully implemented and the matter got stuck.
Iran is using Tomahawk missiles against Iran from warships present in the Middle East.
China is making weapons 6 times faster than America
According to the New York Times, this case shows a major problem of America’s national security. It alone is not able to compete with China’s growing industrial capacity, which is now turning into military power.
China accounts for 28% of global manufacturing and America accounts for 17%. It is estimated that China is acquiring advanced weapons 5-6 times faster.
One shipyard in China can build more ships than all the shipyards in America combined.
America is in danger of falling behind China
Now America is in danger of falling behind militarily against any emerging industrial power in history like Britain, Germany and Japan. History shows that such competitions often end in destructive wars.
The solution is for America to confront China not alone but with allies like Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia and the European Union.
For a long time, many allied countries kept leaving the responsibility of their security to America. Former President Barack Obama called it ‘free riding’. These countries spent a very small part of their economy on defense and remained dependent on America.
Trump often takes credit for cracking down on free riders. Over the last 60 years, America has spent 3 to 9.4 percent of its GDP on defense, while many allied countries have spent less than 1 percent.
Now, in view of China’s increasing aggression in Asia and Russia’s war-making in Europe, this system is no longer sustainable. Now America will have to rethink its role and alliances in the world, because it is no longer the single most powerful country.
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