A U.S. Navy submarine-launched UGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile hits a North American RA-5C Vigilante target aircraft on San Clemente Island, California (USA), after a flight of circa 650 km. U.S. DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: DN-SC-86-06115 and DN-SC-86-06115

Naval Today reports, “The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Raytheon a $303.7 million contract for the the delivery of 214 Tomahawk block IV all-up-round vertical launch system missiles and spares.“

Not that the Coast Guard is likely to buy one, the Navy buys our weapons, but the price of Tomahalk missiles may give some indication of the cost of similar sophisticated systems. I’m a bit surprised the price is as low as it is. Since this includes spares in additon to 214 all-up rounds, that puts the price at less than $1.42M each. Frankly, I expected more.

Perhaps including cutters in the Navy’s plans for distributed lethality is not out of the question.