US-Made Tomahawk Missiles Offer Ukraineโฃ Long-Range Strike Capability, Butโ Deployment Faces Hurdles
WASHINGTON โ- โฃThe United States’ tomahawkโ cruiseโฃ missile,โ a combat-provenโ weapon with โขa history spanning over threeโฃ decades, represents a potential game-changer for Ukraine’s ability to strike targets deep within Russia.โข Though, logistical challenges currently limit Kyiv’s access to โthe powerful system, despite ongoing discussions with American defense manufacturers.
The Tomahawk first saw action in 1991โฃ during Operation Desert Storm, with 122 missiles launched against Iraqi defenses in theโค conflict’s opening days. Since then, โit has been deployed in precision strikes across the Balkans, Afghanistan (1998), Yemen,โค Libya, and Syria, โขwith the latest iteration-featuring improvedโ electronics and extended range-entering service in 2021. While primarily a โsea-launched missile, Ukraine would require a ground-based launcher,โฃ known asโข Typhoon, to utilize the system.
The Typhoon system was developed following the U.S. withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear โคforces Treaty with Russia in 2019, a move prompted by alleged Russian violations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed optimism regarding Ukraine’s domestically-developedโข Flamingo cruise โmissile, which is โreported to have a comparable range to the Tomahawk, but its capabilitiesโฃ remain largely unknownโ and production โคcapacity โฃis limited.
Currently, Ukraine’s โคmost pressing โneed remains bolstering its air defenses against Russia’s escalatingโ missile and drone attacks. Zelensky recently met with Lockheed Martin and Raytheon in Washington,โฃ exploring a potentialโ “mega โcontract” valued at approximately $90 billion for weapons purchases.While the Tomahawk offers โa path to long-range strikes, overcomingโฃ deployment hurdles and securing sufficient airโ defense systems are critical for Ukraine’s immediate defense.
