Understanding Tomahawk Missiles: Trump's Potential Game-Changing Support for Ukraine in the Russia Conflict

The Tomahawk missile represents a sophisticated long-range cruise missile system.

United States President Donald Trump has indicated he might provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles if Russia fails to conclude the ongoing three-year conflict promptly. This statement followed a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who requested advanced weaponry including Tomahawk missiles from the United States.

"The United States would not sell missiles directly to Ukraine, but provide them to NATO, which can then offer them to the Ukrainians. I might tell him (Russian President Vladimir Putin), if the war is not settled, we may very well do it. We may not, but we may do it. Do they want to have Tomahawks going in their direction? I don't think so," Trump explained.

Previously, Trump had expressed that before approving Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine, he needed clarity on how Kyiv planned to deploy them, as he wished to avoid escalating the conflict. Subsequently, Zelensky assured that Ukraine would utilize the Tomahawks exclusively for military objectives, stating, "We never attacked their civilians. This is the big difference between Ukraine and Russia. That's why, if we speak about long-range missiles, we speak only about military goals."

Regarding the Tomahawk missiles' specifications, they are designed as long-range cruise missiles typically launched from naval vessels for deep-strike missions. These missiles possess an impressive range of 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles), measure 20 feet (6.1 meters) in length with an 8.5-foot wingspan, and weigh approximately 1,510 kilograms.

Each Tomahawk missile costs approximately $1.3 million on average. They are launched vertically from ships but can also be deployed horizontally from torpedo tubes on attack submarines or from external launchers attached to submarine hulls. The missile utilizes solid propellant during its launch phase.

Providing Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would substantially enhance its strike capabilities, enabling attacks on targets deep within Russian territory, including military bases, logistics hubs, airfields, and command centers currently beyond Ukrainian reach.

The missiles were first deployed in combat during the 1991 Persian Gulf War as part of 'Operation Desert Storm' - an armed conflict between Iraq and a 42-nation coalition led by the United States. During this conflict, the U.S. successfully neutralized hardened targets including surface-to-air missile sites, command-and-control centers, the Iraqi presidential palace in Baghdad, and electrical power infrastructure using Tomahawk missiles.

The United States and allied military forces have conducted flight tests of the GPS-enabled Tomahawk variant and deployed it against Houthi rebel positions in Yemen.