The US burned through more of its limited Tomahawk stockpile in strikes on Iran. It might need them in a war with China.

The US fired Tomahawk cruise missiles as part of its strikes on Iran on Saturday.
Tomahawks have been used heavily in recent conflicts, raising concerns about stockpile strains.
The missiles would be crucial in a conflict with an adversary like China.
US Navy warships fired Tomahawk missiles in their attack on Iran on Saturday, burning through more of the limited stockpile that American forces might need in a conflict with a well-armed adversary like China.
Tomahawks are cruise missiles whose long-range and precise targeting have made them a weapon of choice in recent US campaigns in the Middle East. They are also considered necessary for any potential high-intensity conflict in the Indo-Pacific, where long-range firepower is seen as critical.
US officials and experts have raised concerns that Tomahawk stockpiles are being drained after their use against targets in Nigeria, Yemen, Iran, and now Iran again — risking that the US might not have enough on hand should it go to war with an adversary like China.
There are, however, efforts underway to boost production. As part of a new agreement with the Pentagon, RTX Corporation said this month it would be working to increase annual Tomahawk production to over 1,000 missiles a year as part of a multi-year effort.
Tomahawk cruise missiles were part of a mixture of weapons, including drones, used in strikes against Iran on Saturday during Operation Epic Fury, a US official told Business Insider. US Central Command later released video of the launches.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss military developments, the official said US warships launched Tomahawk missiles at Iranian targets while ground forces used the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS. The official didn’t specify the number of Tomahawks fired or the sites targeted.
The US built up a massive force presence in and around the Middle East before the start of Operation Epic Fury, including 13 Navy destroyers that, if all were in striking range, could launch 150 to 250 Tomahawks, according to an analysis of the US military’s Middle East deployment by the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank.
If US operations were to include one of the four Ohio-class submarines converted to carry cruise missiles, it would add up to 154 more Tomahawks. It remains unclear whether the US strikes include a guided-missile submarine.
Operation Epic Fury is the most recent US combat engagement to use Tomahawks. It follows Operation Midnight Hammer, which targeted Iranian nuclear sites last summer, and years of strikes against Houthi rebel targets in Yemen. Tomahawks were also fired in December at sites in Nigeria associated with an Islamic State affiliate.
Across these operations and military actions, US officials have highlighted the importance of Tomahawks in America’s arsenal and the need for increased production.