What Is the Son of Tomahawk Missile
The son of tomahawk refers to the Next Generation Land Attack Missile (NGALM), a hypersonic-capable cruise missile designed to replace the aging BGM-109 Tomahawk. The program is led by the U.S. Navy and Raytheon Technologies, with Lockheed Martin as a key subsystem partner. The missile aims for extended range, faster speed, and improved target discrimination compared to current Tomahawk variants. Forbes reports Raytheon is advancing the NGALM as a direct successor to the Tomahawk.
Raytheon describes the system as a modular, multi-domain weapon that can integrate with ships, submarines, and land launchers. The NGALM is designed to fly at speeds above Mach 5 while maintaining the precision and networking capabilities of legacy Tomahawks. The U.S. Navy has included the program in its budget requests to replace the current inventory by the late 2020s. The U.S. Navy press release confirms the NGALM development timeline and strategic role.
Key Companies and Supply Chain
Raytheon Technologies is the prime contractor for the son of tomahawk program, with its Missiles & Defense segment driving the propulsion, guidance, and warhead integration. Lockheed Martin supplies advanced sensors and electronic warfare components, while Northrop Grumman provides the airframe structures and composite materials. The supply chain also includes smaller firms in guidance systems, solid rocket motors, and advanced materials. Raytheon's latest SEC filing details segment revenue and program risk factors tied to NGALM.
The program has shifted significant work to Raytheon's facilities in Tucson, Arizona, and Andover, Massachusetts, creating thousands of engineering and manufacturing jobs. The U.S. Navy awarded a multi-billion-dollar contract to Raytheon in 2024 to accelerate NGALM prototyping and testing. Forbes notes the contract value and the urgency to field the system amid rising Pacific tensions.
Impact on Defense Stocks and Investment
Raytheon Technologies stock has been a primary beneficiary of the son of tomahawk program, with analysts citing NGALM as a long-term revenue driver for the Missiles & Defense segment. The company's guidance for defense sales growth has been raised multiple times since the NGALM contract award. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman also see indirect benefits through subsystem and component orders tied to the program.