What Is a Tomahawk Missile and How Can It Help Ukraine

The US media has reported that the administration of President Donald Trump is considering transferring Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. This type of weapon has previously been discussed for supply to Ukraine, with Kyiv requesting them as early as 2024. However, no approval was granted at that time. Now, that may change.

Why the Tomahawk stands out

The Tomahawk’s biggest advantage over all the weaponry currently available to the Ukrainian Armed Forces is its long range.

Depending on the modification, Tomahawk missiles can reach distances of 1,600 to 2,500 km. Currently, no other missile in Kyiv’s arsenal can reach that far—most are limited to a range of about 400 km.

Ukraine does have long-range drones capable of flying 1,200–1,800 km, but they have limitations. First, they are slower, while the Tomahawk flies at almost 900 km/h. Second, the Tomahawk has a larger warhead (450 kg), allowing it to cause more serious damage. Third, with Tomahawks in its arsenal, Ukraine could launch combined strikes deep into Russian-held territory.

How Ukraine can use the Tomahawk

Ukraine has several priority targets for strikes. First of all, these are military airfields. We have previously repeatedly stated that Russian aviation is based at dozens of airfields located near the border with Ukraine and within the range of ATACMS, Storm Shadow, and SCALP missiles. But initially, Kyiv did not have such missiles, and later it did not have permission to use them for strikes on Russian territory. When the permission was granted, the aircraft had already been relocated. Tomahawk missiles change the rules of the game because a large number of airfields where Russian aviation is located are within range.

Secondly, large weapons depots. Successful hits can result in the destruction of a huge number of shells—for example, this was the case during the attack on Toropets. Artillery shells, ammunition, rockets for Grad, S-300, S-400, ballistic missiles for Iskander, as well as North Korean KN23 missiles were destroyed. Thanks to the supply of long-range missiles from the USA, the number of such hits can increase, which will force Russia to reduce the intensity of its offensive.

Thirdly, military facilities and infrastructure. Today, Ukraine is consistently striking factories and production sites that work for the Russian military machine—producing components for missiles, drones, aircraft, and other types of weapons. With the availability of long-range missiles and a sufficient quantity of them, the frequency of strikes and the selection of targets can be increased.

Finally, military equipment such as radars, air defense systems, and launchers. Tomahawks are considered precision missiles and can hit even relatively small targets.

A unique feature of the missile is that it is very flexible. It can be redirected in flight—meaning, if necessary, the target can be changed after launch. The missile flies fast, at low altitudes, and over long distances.

Comparison with other missiles

The Tomahawk missile was first used in 1991, during the Gulf War. However, the development of this missile began much earlier, in 1972. Today, the missile is back in action—modernized versions were used during a US military operation in Iran in the summer of 2025.

Despite its age, the Tomahawk remains a competitive missile. It can fly several times farther than the Storm Shadow or SCALP-EG (which have a range of up to 300 km) and about 50% farther than long-range versions of JASSM / JASSM-ER (which can reach up to 1,000 km)—both of which may also be transferred to Ukraine. The Tomahawk’s range is comparable to the Russian Kalibr missile, which reaches 1,500–2,500 km.

In terms of speed, it is surpassed only by the Kalibr. It carries a warhead of 450 kg, similar to all the mentioned missiles. While newer missiles like the Storm Shadow, SCALP-EG, and JASSM feature better stealth capabilities, a new version of the Tomahawk is currently in development that will improve this aspect as well. It has a land-based and sea-based launch system

So why does it matter?

Tomahawks could significantly expand Ukraine’s strike capabilities, enabling attacks on weapons depots, logistics hubs, military bases, and manufacturing facilities deep in Russian territory—boosting Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and slow down the Russian war machine.