Tomahawk Missiles: How Their Potential Supply to Ukraine Could Transform the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The US Navy guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey fires a Tomahawk land attack missile. (File)

Russia announced Monday that its military is evaluating whether the United States will provide Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine for deep strikes into Russian territory, a development Russian officials warn could lead to significant escalation in the conflict.

If Ukraine receives Tomahawk missiles, its strike capabilities would be dramatically enhanced, allowing it to target facilities deep within Russia, including military installations, logistics centers, airfields, and command posts currently beyond the range of its existing arsenal.

What Makes Tomahawk Missiles So Powerful?

The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile is a sophisticated long-range cruise missile typically deployed from naval platforms to conduct deep-strike missions. These precision-guided weapons can hit targets from distances up to 1,000 miles (1,600 km), even in heavily defended airspace. Each missile measures 20 feet (6.1 meters) in length with an 8.5-foot wingspan and weighs approximately 3,330 pounds (1,510 kg).

Cost And Production Of Tomahawk Missiles

RTX's Raytheon division manufactures the non-nuclear Tomahawk missile, which can be launched from both land and sea platforms. According to Pentagon budget documents, the United States plans to acquire 57 missiles in 2026. The average cost per missile is $1.3 million. Ongoing programs are investing millions to modify and upgrade these weapons, particularly their guidance systems.

Recent Combat Usage In The Middle East

The GPS-enabled Tomahawk has been extensively flight tested by US and allied forces and deployed in actual combat operations, including recent strikes by U.S. and U.K. Navies against Houthi rebel positions in Yemen.

How Tomahawks Differ From Ukraine's Current Missiles

Ukraine currently possesses several domestically produced and Western-provided long-range missile systems:

Flamingo - Ukrainian defense company Fire Point recently developed the Flamingo missile, which President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has described as his country's most effective weapon. It boasts a range exceeding 1,000 miles and saw its first operational use in August 2025.

Neptune - Ukraine developed the Neptune anti-ship missile and introduced it in 2015. Advanced variants have a range of just over 600 miles.

Harpoon - Manufactured by Boeing in the United States, the Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile utilizing active radar homing. It flies just above water to evade defenses and can be deployed from ships, submarines, aircraft, or coastal batteries with a range of 75 nautical miles.

ATACMS - Produced by Lockheed Martin Corp in the United States, the Army Tactical Missile System has a maximum range of up to 190 miles depending on the variant. This solid-fueled, medium-range tactical ballistic missile measures approximately 4 meters in length. ATACMS can be launched from the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) or the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).

Storm Shadow Missiles - Manufactured by Europe's MBDA, these cruise missiles have a range of 155 miles and carry a conventional warhead weighing 990 pounds.