Up next in 10
US Navy will use Tomahawks to chop enemy ships
1 views
Jun 10, 2025
The U.S. Navy will soon deploy the Maritime Strike Tomahawk, an upgraded version of the Tomahawk missile designed to strike enemy ships.
View Video Transcript
0:00
The U.S. Navy is about to add a serious punch to its arsenal at sea
0:04
By the end of September, defense giant RTX says its latest weapon, the Maritime Strike Tomahawk, will be ready for deployment
0:15
The new maritime missile is a variant of the battle-proven Tomahawk cruise missile
0:20
one of the most reliable weapons in modern warfare. With a range of at least 1,000 miles
0:27
the tomahawk was the weapon of choice for deep strikes during operations in Iraq, Afghanistan
0:33
and Syria. Since it first hit the battlefield, the U.S. and its allies launched more than 2,350
0:40
tomahawks. In 2024, more than 80 of them were used in the Navy's opening salvo of attacks on
0:48
Houthi targets in Yemen. Originally designed to hit land targets, the tomahawk evolved
0:55
Back in 2015, Raytheon, now a part of RTX, tested a Block IV variant that could strike ships at sea
1:04
That test laid the foundation for what's now the Block 5A, the Maritime Strike Tomahawk
1:11
The upgraded version includes enhanced guidance and targeting systems, giving U.S. Navy destroyers a precision strike capability against enemy vessels
1:20
far beyond visual range, or over the horizon to use military jargon. Fleet Forces Commander
1:27
Admiral Daryl Cottle called the new missile a game in anti firepower The Navy plans to buy over 1 of them at a cost of around million per missile And it worth noting here
1:40
these missiles can be launched from submarines, though it's not yet clear when they'll be
1:46
integrated into the U.S. Navy's so-called silent service. What we do know is the Pentagon is
1:52
prioritizing the Indo-Pacific, where tensions with China are rising. While not officially
1:59
announced it's a safe bet, the naval destroyers stationed in the Western Pacific will be among
2:04
the first to receive the new missiles. And it's not just the United States who could be getting
2:10
in on the action. Australia recently became just the third country to fire a tomahawk
2:15
after the US and the UK. The Royal Australian Navy ordered 200 tomahawks last year
2:22
and Japan's self-defense force doubled that order with a purchase of 400
2:28
That increase in demand is leading to more sustainable production of tomahawks
2:32
so it's not outside the realm of possibility. U.S. allies could be fielding the MST soon as well
2:39
Why would they? Well, China. As Beijing steps up aggression toward Taiwan and patrols contested waters near the Philippines
2:47
the United States and its allies in the region are making it clear if China tries to upset or threaten freedom of navigation in the region, there will be a high
2:56
price to pay. For more unbiased, straight-fact updates like this, download the Straight Arrow
3:01
News app today
#news