Trump has threatened to give Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine – but can they turn the tide of the war?
As Russia continues to bombard Ukraine with drone attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky has made repeated and increasingly urgent calls for Kyiv to have access to more powerful and expansive weapons.
The US-made Tomahawk could be the answer to his problems. A long-range missile with huge potential for precision strikes deep in enemy territory, access to the weapon would provide Ukraine with a new kind of military might – and it may not be as far away as it once was.
Donald Trump has threatened to send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine in a renewed push to get Vladimir Putin to end the war. With Zelensky set to visit Washington on Friday, the leaders have said the provision of the weapons will be a major topic to be discussed.
If Trump follows through on his threats, Ukraine could significantly expand its strike capabilities, enabling it to hit targets deep inside Russian territory, including military bases, logistics hubs, airfields and command centres that are currently beyond reach.
But experts have warned the impact of the missile shouldn’t be overstated, with Trump’s threats more likely to see diplomatic shifts than game-changing military movements.
The Tomahawk missile is a US-made long-range cruise missile typically launched from sea to attack targets in deep-strike missions.
First used in 1991 during the Persian Gulf War, the missiles have evolved considerably over the last 30 years. According to manufacturer Raytheon, the most recent version, called the Block IV Tactical Tomahawk, or TACTOM, can switch targets while in flight, loiter for hours and change course instantly on command.
Its most recent use came in 2024, when the US and UK Navies launched Tomahawk missiles at Houthi rebel sites in Yemen.
The precision-guided weapon can strike targets from 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away, even in heavily defended airspace. Measuring 20 feet (6.1 meters) long with an 8.5-foot wingspan and weighing in at about 3,330 pounds (1,510 kg).
But it doesn’t come cheap. The missiles have an average cost of $1.3 million, according to Reuters news agency, making it a valuable – but costly – military acquisition.
Speaking to The Independent, Dr Sidharth Kaushal, Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) said the Tomahawk is guided to its target by a combination of digital scene mapping area correlation and GPS, giving it a “comparatively high survivability” and precision when compared with other missiles, such as the Ukrainian Flamingo.
“In conjunction with a lower radar cross section, these features make the Tomahawk a far more lethal capability against targets situated at strategic depth than the Flamingo which is likely to be employable primarily against relatively soft targets associated with Russia’s hydrocarbon sector,” he explained.
But Dr Kaushal warned the effectiveness of Tomahawks “must not be overstated”.
“Russia has spent decades optimizing its air defence network against threats such as subsonic cruise missiles and many of the systems it operates including ground-based SAMs and interceptors like the MIG-31BM were built partially with a view to managing the risk posed by Tomahawk,” he continued.
