Characteristics of Tomahawk cruise missiles that the United States threatens to transfer to Ukraine
Washington is considering expanding military assistance to Ukraine, including the supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles, which have become a kind of hallmark of American military operations abroad. "The newspaper.Ru" was looking into whether they could appear in Ukraine, as well as what features Tomahawk has.
Tomahawk missiles: what are they and how did they appear Characteristics of the Tomahawk missile Which countries have Tomahawk and can Ukraine have them Military conflicts with the use of Tomahawk
Tomahawk missiles: what are they and how did they appear
The Tomahawk is an American long-range cruise missile designed at the height of the Cold War. Development began in the 1970s at General Dynamics, commissioned by the US Navy. The main task is to create high-precision weapons capable of hitting important ground targets from a safe distance - beyond the range of enemy air defenses.
The first modification entered service in 1983. Since then, the missile has been repeatedly refined, increasing its range, accuracy and resistance to electronic warfare. Now the production is conducted by the American company Raytheon. The latest versions of Tomahawk can be programmed anew right in the process of preparing for launch, as well as redirected already in flight.
Tomahawk is launched from ships and submarines of the U.S. Navy and allies. Due to the low flight path and the ability to "bend around" the terrain, the rocket is barely noticeable to radars. It is controlled by GPS data and the built-in navigation system. In the final phase of the flight, it uses optical sensors to aim at the target with high accuracy.
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| Tomahawk infographics. |
| Source: "Gazeta.Ru» |
Characteristics of the Tomahawk missile
The United States currently has versions of Block IV (also known as Tactical Tomahawk) in service, and Block V is gradually being introduced. Here are the main parameters:
Flight range: up to 1600 km - in standard configuration. In some modifications (for example, Block II), a range of up to 2500 km was claimed, but these data have not been officially confirmed. The new version of the Block V can gain increased range by optimizing fuel and warhead weight.
Speed: about 880 km/h, that is, the rocket remains subsonic. This allows it to save fuel, fly low and "circle" the terrain, avoiding radar detection.
Type of warhead: in most cases, high-explosive fragmentation, weighing 450 kg. Other options are also possible: cassette, concrete-piercing, penetrating. Nuclear versions existed in the past, but have been discontinued.
Guidance system: The missile combines several technologies.
- GPS - satellite navigation;
- INS (Inertial navigation) - works when the signal is jammed;
- TERCOM - comparison with the terrain on the map;
- DSMAC - optical target recognition on the final flight segment.
Thanks to this bundle, the missile can fly thousands of kilometers, bypass air defense zones and hit a target with an accuracy of 3-5 meters.
Launch type: universal - the missile can be launched from: surface ships of the US Navy; from nuclear submarines; theoretically, from land-based launchers, if an appropriate platform is created.
Flight altitude: from 10 to 50 meters above the ground or sea. This makes the Tomahawk barely noticeable to radars - the missile literally "sneaks" to the target at an ultra-low altitude.
In-flight communication: Block IV and Block V can receive target updates after launch, and if necessary, even abandon the strike if the target turns out to be civilian or outdated.
In addition, it will have modules with various types of warheads, including those with a penetrating effect for underground bunkers and fortifications.
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| Tomahawk missiles in the bomb bay of a B-52 Stratofortress aircraft, 1979. |
| Source: HUM Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images |
Which countries have Tomahawks and can Ukraine have them?
Currently, Tomahawk missiles are officially in service with several countries, but the United States remains in control of their proliferation. The production and export is carried out by the American company Raytheon under license and with the participation of the Pentagon.
, USA. The only main operator since 1983 has been launching from ships and submarines of the US Navy, with more than 4,000 missiles in service.
, Great Britain. The Royal Navy purchased about 65 Block III missiles in 1995 and 2001, followed by another 65 Block ivs, which are being upgraded to Block V. Some of the missiles are deployed on Astute-class nuclear submarines, they have already been used in combat (for example, in 2001, 2011).
, Australia. In September 2021, the purchase of up to 200 Block V and 20 Block IV missiles worth approximately $895 million was approved. In December 2024, a missile was launched for the first time from a Hobart-class destroyer.
???????? Japan. In January 2024, a contract was signed for the supply of 400 missiles (200 Block IV + 200 Block V) worth about $1.7 billion. Deliveries began in fiscal year 2025, with crew training starting in March 2024.
, The Netherlands. In April 2025, the US State Department approved a deal worth $2.19 billion for the purchase of approximately 200 missiles. The first launch took place in March 2025 (frigate De Ruyter).
Ukraine is not included in this list. Moreover, even among U.S. allies, access to Tomahawk is considered "exclusive." The reason is not only the high cost, but also the strategic sensitivity: the missile is capable of carrying an impressive warhead at a range of over a thousand kilometers.
However, in practice, the transfer of such weapons to Ukraine may cause a sharp escalation of the conflict with Russia.
In addition, the launch of Tomahawk requires a complex infrastructure: trained calculations, guidance systems, and sometimes satellite support. This is not a portable Javelin, an American portable anti-tank missile system. Therefore, despite the discussion in political circles, official plans for the supply of Tomahawk to Ukraine have not yet been announced. In addition, the cost of Tomahawk is "exorbitant" - about $ 1.9 million per rocket.
Military conflicts involving Tomahawk
Tomahawk missiles have become a kind of hallmark of American military operations abroad. They are most often used at the very beginning of a conflict to suppress enemy air defenses, disable headquarters, airfields, warehouses and communications centers. For several decades, Tomahawk has managed to participate in almost all major US military campaigns.
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| The use of Tomahawk missiles. |
| Source: Newspaper.Ru |
- 1991, Operation Desert Storm (Iraq)
The first mass combat test of Tomahawk. Hundreds of missiles were fired from American ships in the Persian Gulf at Iraqi military installations. It was with these strikes that the operation against Saddam Hussein's army began.
- 2001, Afghanistan
In the early hours of the operation against the Taliban, the United States launched Tomahawk strikes against militant targets and the movement's infrastructure. The missiles were launched from submarines in the Arabian Sea.
- 2003, invasion of Iraq
Massive Tomahawk application again. The missiles hit government buildings, weapons depots, radar stations and command centers. More than 400 missiles were fired during the day.
- 2011, operation in Libya
The United States and its allies used Tomahawk to suppress Muammar Gaddafi's air defenses. The missiles opened the way for NATO aircraft, neutralizing anti-aircraft installations and early warning systems.
- 2017 and 2018, Syria
The American destroyer launched 59 Tomahawks in response to the alleged chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun. The targets were airfields, warehouses and research centers of the Syrian authorities. A year later, the United States struck again, together with Britain and France.
In all these cases, the US military claimed that the missiles showed high accuracy and the ability to use force remotely - without the direct involvement of ground troops. This is what makes the Tomahawk such an attractive weapon in the eyes of politicians and generals.
*) - On May 26, 2025, the decision of the Supreme Court of Russia to suspend the ban on the Taliban movement came into force.[/i]
Matvey Kupriyanov
