The New York Times reports that a secret section of the so-called victory plan from President Vladimir Zelensky included a request to the United States for long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, which could reach targets in Russia over a distance of more than 2000 kilometers. American officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to The New York Times, described the request for Tomahawk missiles as completely unfeasible.
Unique Weapon
Tomahawk missiles were introduced into the arsenal of the U.S. Army and Navy in 1983, during the height of the Cold War. It quickly became clear that among deterrent weapons, this was one of the most effective.
The subsonic missile could reach speeds of up to 900 kilometers per hour, but intercepting it or influencing its course through electronic warfare was nearly impossible. The main reason is its extremely low flight altitude, literally just above the treetops and rooftops. Additionally, the turbojet engine produces very little thermal radiation.
The Tomahawk can have a high-explosive or cluster warhead and can even function as an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.
In 2021, the U.S. Navy received the first batch of Tomahawk missiles in the Block V configuration from Raytheon. This version has a range of over 1600 km and is equipped with modern guidance and communication systems.
“The Tomahawk Block Va will operate in several modes and autonomously 'distinguish targets.' Additionally, the missile can now be retargeted mid-flight. Another version, the Tomahawk Block Vb, is designed for destroying stationary targets… It is known to have high penetration capabilities for destroying fortifications, such as underground bunkers,” wrote Defence Express.
This missile is one of the main striking forces of the U.S. Navy, armed on Ticonderoga-class cruisers, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and Ohio, Seawolf, and Los Angeles submarines.
Defenseless Air Defense
During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the U.S. Navy used 297 Tomahawk missiles, with only two being shot down by Iraqi air defense. However, about a dozen missiles failed to launch due to various defects.
In Europe, Tomahawks were used during the Bosnian War and throughout NATO operations in Yugoslavia. Over 200 missiles were deployed during the Odyssey Dawn campaign in Libya (2011).
Each time, air defense struggled to counter these missiles—only a few were successfully intercepted.
A certain number of missiles could potentially be purchased by Ukraine. The cost of a Tomahawk Block V for the U.S. Navy in the 2024 fiscal year is $1.8 million per unit. In the export version (for the Japanese navy), it is $4.25 million.
There are more than enough missiles manufactured—several thousand at the very least.
How to Launch?
However, Ukraine lacks submarines or large ships from which these missiles could be launched. Furthermore, there is no suitable body of water under its control. The latest ground-based Typhon systems, which the U.S. plans to deploy in Germany, are not intended for export.
Secondly, Tomahawk missiles are available for sale, but not to everyone, as noted by Defence Express. Since their inception in 1983, the only operator besides the U.S. has been the United Kingdom. In 2023, only two countries received permission to purchase them—Japan and Australia. The Netherlands was denied permission.