On Sunday, June 22, the United States fired more than 20 Tomahawk missiles from Ohio-class submarines at Iranian nuclear facilities.
These high-precision missiles, which are capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 2,500 km, were previously in Ukraine’s request to international partners.
ICTV Facts learned the characteristics, cost and range of Tomahawk missiles.
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The Tomahawk is a multi-role cruise missile that is an integral part of the US Navy's strike force. Its low-level flight and high accuracy make it an ideal weapon for striking important military installations such as command posts, airfields and air defense systems. Equipped with various types of warheads, the Tomahawk can perform a wide range of missions, from the destruction of ground targets to reconnaissance. Modern modifications of this missile provide it with even greater range, accuracy and survivability.
Tomahawk cruise missiles have repeatedly demonstrated their high effectiveness in combat, starting with the Gulf War. Despite enemy attempts to shoot down these missiles, only a small portion of them were destroyed by air defense systems. Such effectiveness is explained by modern guidance systems and high maneuverability of the Tomahawk.
Tomahawk: specifications
The Tomahawk family of missiles are precision-guided, long-range, subsonic cruise missiles that are widely used by the armed forces of the United States and several other countries. Tomahawks, whose ranges can vary, are characterized by their versatility and the ability to hit targets at significant distances, making them one of the most effective types of precision weapons.
Main characteristics of the Tomahawk missile:
- type – subsonic cruise missile with turbojet engine;
- length – 5.55 m without booster;
- diameter – 0.52 m;
- weight without accelerator – about 1,315 kg;
- flight range – 1,250-2,500 km;
- warhead – high-explosive, nuclear, cluster, weighing up to 454 kg;
- Guidance systems – inertial system with correction based on terrain photos, GPS and anti-radar homing head.
Infographic: Tomahawk MissilesThis allows the missiles to hit both stationary and moving targets with high accuracy.
Tomahawk missile: price
Last year Australia has added a batch of Tomahawk cruise missiles to its military arsenal. The high-precision long-range Tomahawk missiles, which cost about $4.16 million apiece under this agreement, are capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 1,600 km.
The Australian military plans to deploy Tomahawks from its Hobart-class destroyers, each of which can carry up to 48 of the missiles.
What Tomahawk missiles can be used in Ukraine
There are Tomahawk air-launched missiles, anti-ship missiles and BGM-109A/C/D/G missiles launched from land-based launchers. This is the option that is suitable for Ukraine.
But in 1987, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed. Under this treaty, the USSR destroyed its SS-20s. All ground-based Tomahawk BGM-109G missiles in Europe were destroyed under this treaty from 1988 to 1991. Therefore, until recently, the United States did not have ground-based launchers for Tomahawk missiles.
In 2023, the US Army adopted a VLS battery — the Strategic Mid-range Fires System (SMRF), which was named Typhon. This installation can launch a huge number of different missiles, including Tomahawks. But the US has a small number of such launchers.
Ukraine is interested in acquiring these missiles to strengthen its defense capabilities. However, there are significant obstacles to implementing such a scenario. First, launching Tomahawk requires special platforms, such as submarines or ships, which Ukraine does not have. In addition, the United States restricts the export of these missiles.
According to aviation expert Valery Romanenko , Tomahawk missiles, which are currently launched from ships, can be launched from land-based launchers.
— The aircraft that we have in service can be retrofitted with appropriate holders for Tomahawks. We are talking about Su-24 bombers. But the problem is that we have very few of these aircraft and now they are used to launch Storm Shadow — the expert says.
The expert notes that Tomahawks are launched from container launchers. In his opinion, if necessary, existing launchers can be re-equipped for these missiles.
“As for the new Typhon ground launcher, no one will give it to us. We must proceed from what we have and what our allies have in stock,” Romanenko notes.
Sources: Military; Defense Express; missilethreat
