Washington, Aug. 17 (SANA)The US Navy has awarded a $22.9 billion contract to Raytheon to accelerate production of Tomahawk cruise missiles, as the Pentagon moves to replenish stockpiles depleted during recent military operations againstIran.

“This landmark $22.9 billion investment accelerates the delivery of Tomahawk missiles to our warfighters at unprecedented speed,” Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said in a statement on the Navy’s website. “By working closely with industry to expand the capacity of our munitions industrial base, the Department is utilizing every available tool to meet the demands of current operations”.

The seven-year contract aims to increase annual Tomahawk production to more than 1,000 missiles, up from approximately 60 per year.

The contract follows reports that US missile inventories have been significantly drawn down. According to a March report cited by the Washington Post, the US fired over 850 Tomahawk missiles during the first month of operations against Iran. Some estimates suggest the Navy’s inventory of between 3,000 and 4,500 Tomahawks has been reduced by as much as a quarter.

On Aug. 4, CNN reported that the US military had depleted approximately 80 percent of its THAAD interceptor inventory and roughly half of its Patriot interceptors during the conflict.

The contract reflects broader concerns within thePentagonabout the sustainability of its munitions stockpiles following the war with Iran.

US officials have described stocks in the Middle East as “alarmingly low,” raising questions about readiness for potential future operations in other theaters. The production expansion will require Raytheon to significantly expand its workforce and fortify supply chains.