MK 45 Capsule Launch System restart
Published July 14, 2026 / Submarine-launched Tomahawk production path
Raytheon has received a not-to-exceed $101.98m Navy order to restart the MK 45 Capsule Launch System production line. This will support future submarine-launched Tomahawk missile capability.
This award is for NRE (non-recurring engineering) efforts, including obsolescence mitigation, design and development, testing and redesign of the Eject Initiation Subsystems, among other activities.
not-to-exceed Navy order to Raytheon
expected workshare in Tucson, Arizona
work expected to run through completion
Capsule Launch System restart
Restart scope
The order supports a limited production quantity of updated systems, with work running through July 2030.
Obsolescence
mitigation and production-line restart
Design / test
development, inspection, testing and redesign work
TDP updates
technical data package refresh
Eject initiation
Eject Initiation Subsystems redesign
Relevant Tucson / Tactical Tomahawk supply chain
Historically, related MK 45 CLS NSNs show government design-source references, with Raytheon and Northrop Grumman also listed against relevant part records. As the restart includes technical data updates and subsystem redesign, Raytheon is likely to draw on its wider Tucson supply chain, where 98% of the work is expected to take place.
Propulsion / motors
Williams International, Aerojet Rocketdyne
Guidance / electronics
Honeywell, Ball / BAE Space, Spartronics, L3Harris
Launchers / canisters / test equipment
Dynetics
Energetics / fuzing
Kaman, Pacific Scientific, Ensign-Bickford, Nammo
Machining / structures
Klune, JCM Engineering, GD OTS, VACCO, Glendee
Harnessing / interconnect
Ducommun, Carlisle
Batteries / actuation
EaglePicher, Parker, Moog
Demand context
The award sits within the wider Tomahawk and missile demand environment.
Tomahawk has been used recently in Red Sea / Yemen strike activity and in Iran strikes, including via submarine launched efforts, while allied demand has also increased through Japan and Australia.
Undersea launch path
Restarting the MK 45 Capsule Launch System production line demonstrates continued focus on the undersea launch path, enabling covert long-range strike from forward positions without relying solely on surface combatants or aircraft.
What the signal says
The restart is engineering-heavy before it is production-heavy.
The award is for NRE efforts, including obsolescence mitigation, technical data updates, testing and subsystem redesign.
The supplier question points back to Tucson.
As the restart includes technical data updates and subsystem redesign, Raytheon is likely to draw on its wider Tucson supply chain.
The undersea launch path remains strategically relevant.
Restarting MK 45 CLS production supports covert long-range strike from forward positions without relying solely on surface combatants or aircraft.
Sources: U.S. Navy contract announcement, public prime and subcontract procurement data, DLA NSN and CAGE references, company disclosures, Mimir Data Platform and Modeling. Supplier references are relevant to Raytheon's Tucson / Tactical Tomahawk supply chain and related part records; they are not a definitive bill of material for the MK 45 CLS restart.