Operation Epic Fury’s Tomahawk Fires: An Open-Source Counter

The BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) – Washington’s mainstay naval-launched cruise missile – has been extensively used by American forces in the ongoing conflict with Iran. Utilizing open-source media released by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Naval News has complied verifiable launches of Tomahawk from U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers operating across the region.

According to an estimate from D.C.-based Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS), 319 Tomahawks were been launched within the first week of Operation Epic Fury.

For reference to previous conflicts that saw large-scale launches of TLAMs, CSIS’ Missile Defense Project claims that over 300 missiles were launched during 1991’s Operation Desert Storm. A U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings article from 1992 stated that 288 Tomahawks were fired across 18 cruisers, destroyers, battleships and submarines during the operation to push Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. The number of launches drastically increased during 2003’s Operation Iraqi Freedom, which saw over 800 firings of the missile according to CSIS.

This counter includes the number of Tomahawks used, the dates they were launched and the corresponding Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that fired the cruise missiles. Naval News recognizes that this list does not provide a definitive number of missiles fired due to numerous factors, including: undisclosed launches from yet-to-be publicized platforms, operational security considerations and selective media released from CENTCOM. The true number of launched missiles is likely much higher than the numbers provided in this counter.

However, the list aims to provide a number of Tomahawks that can be verified to date since the beginning of Epic Fury on Feb. 28, 2026. Updates will be provided weekly.

Tomahawk Launches

Total count as of 3/16/2026: At least 82-108 Tomahawks

• USS Bainbridge (DDG-96): 20 Tomahawks
  • 3/2/2026:
    • Video launch of six missiles.
    • Video launch of 14 missiles.
• USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116): Between 18 to 44 Tomahawks
  • 3/5/2026
    • Media shows at least one missile launch from the aft-VLS magazine.
    • Media shows a count of TLAM 44 launches recorded on Thomas Hudner‘s bridge.
  • 3/4/2026
    • Video launch of 13 missiles.
  • 3/1/2026
    • Video launch of at least two missiles launch from the forward-VLS magazine and one missile launch from the aft-VLS magazine.
• USS John Finn (DDG-113): 13 Tomahawks
  • 3/10/2026
    • Video launch of 13 missiles.
• USS Mahan (DDG-72): 12 Tomahawks
  • 3/3/2026
    • Video launch of 12 missiles
• USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121): 11 Tomahawks
  • 3/9/2026
    • Video launch of one missile from the aft-VLS magazine.
  • 2/28/2026
    • Video launch of at least 10 missiles.
• USS Spruance (DDG-111): 4 Tomahawks
  • 3/1/2026
    • Video launch of two missiles from the forward-VLS magazine
  • 2/28/2026
    • Media shows the launch of two missiles, including a black-colored Tomahawk, from the forward-VLS magazine.
    • As reported by The War Zone, a black-colored Tomahawk was launched from a Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy-equipped destroyer. The AN/SEQ-4 ODIN has been mounted aboard John Finn and Spruance.
• USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119): 2 Tomahawks
  • 2/28/2026
    • Media shows at least one missile launch from the forward-VLS magazine and one missile launch from the aft-VLS magazine.
• USS Milius (DDG-69): 1 Tomahawk
  • 3/2/2026
    • Media shows at least one missile launch from the forward-VLS magazine.
• USS Bulkeley (DDG-84): 1 Tomahawk
  • 3/4/2026
    • Media shows at least one missile launch from the forward-VLS magazine.