BBC Russian Service military analyst Pavel Aksyonov told Novaya-Europe that Tomahawk missiles were originally designed as sea-based weapons. According to him, Ukraine currently does not have the launch platforms needed to deploy them in that original configuration.
He noted that after the United States withdrew from the INF Treaty in 2019, Washington began developing and delivering to its forces the new ground-based Typhon launcher, which is capable of firing Tomahawks. Therefore, when a possible transfer of these missiles to Kyiv is discussed, it would more likely involve such a system. Aksyonov added that these launchers have only recently entered production and that not many have been built so far.
Ukrainian expert Roman Svitan told Novaya-Europe that the Tomahawk carries a warhead of about half a ton and described it as a highly effective weapon. He said it is the main missile used by the U.S. military and that the United States has thousands of them in service.
According to Svitan, Kyiv has long been requesting these missiles. If a delivery decision is made, personnel would still need to be trained. He cited the European example, where Tomahawks can be launched by the U.S. Aegis system based in Poland and Romania. In his view, however, Ukraine could receive only mobile Typhon launchers.
An anonymous Russian military expert told the publication that Tomahawks are a family of U.S.-made long-range, high-precision cruise missiles intended for both strategic and tactical missions. He said there are submarine-, surface-, air-, and ground-launched versions.
The source added that these missiles are currently in service with the ships and submarines of the United States and the United Kingdom. In particular, they arm attack nuclear submarines and ballistic missile submarine cruisers, with each submarine carrying dozens of missiles. He estimated that the UK has about a hundred Tomahawks. Svitan separately noted that, apart from the United States, only the United Kingdom currently fields these missiles, and that in the Royal Navy they serve as carriers of nuclear weapons.