The report is a half-truth, because it omits how the Tomahawk has a proposed successor, the Cruise Missile XR (Extended Range). The Russians are marketing increasingly effective anti-cruise missile systems, and the Tomahawk was not suitable for striking moving targets. The new Cruise Missile XR (Extended Range) offers stealth capabilities, the ability to strike moving targets, and other improvements challenging the Russian anti-cruise missile systems.
The Hellfire has long been under consideraton for phasing out as proposed replacements were developed and scheduled for appropriations that were subsequently canceled for budgetary reasons. The latest proposed replacement for the Hellfire is the Joint Air to Ground Missile (JAGM).
The retirement of the Tomahawk and Hellfire missiles after long service is to be expected sooner or later, so the real question is whether or not the Obama Administration is going to proved adequate and timely funding for effective replacement missile systems?
True enough. What worries me is that if and when the current admin will have a replacement ready when these two are dumped? Kinda like our human space flight program when we shut the shuttle down. Oh, wait. We don’t have a current human space flight program. Ooopsee! Good thing are buddies in Russia are there to “let” fly us back and forth to the ISS huh?