The Tomahawk missile may turn the tide of the Ukraine war. What are its characteristics? | news

The Russian-Ukrainian war has returned to the forefront again in light of growing talk about the United States’ intention to supply Tomahawk missiles to Kiev, which may affect the conduct of field battles and constitute a turning point in the conflict.

The Tomahawk missile has military technical characteristics, the most prominent of which are:

• Long-range American cruise missile.
• It has a range of between 1,600 and 2,500 kilometers.
• The warhead weighs up to 450 kilograms.
• Flying low.
• It is usually launched from warships or submarines.
• It was designed to fly subsonic and at low altitudes to evade radar detection.
• It is characterized by high accuracy thanks to advanced guidance systems.

Tomahawk missiles have proven their effectiveness on battlefields, and in the summer of 2019, the US Army conducted a test to launch the Tomahawk from a ground platform with a range of up to 500 kilometers.

But the process of delivering these missiles will face major logistical obstacles, as Ukraine lacks land or sea launch platforms capable of operating this advanced type of missile.

In a related context, the American Institute for the Study of War estimated the presence of at least 1,500 Russian military facilities within the range of Tomahawk missiles, depending on the category and range that will be supplied to Ukraine.

On the other hand, Russia has missile defense systems, most notably the S-300 system with its updated 400 and 500 generations, but its capabilities have not been tested before against missiles such as the Tomahawk.

Russia had warned against the delivery of Tomahawk missiles, while Ukraine confirmed that it would not use these missiles if it obtained them against civilian targets.

Ukraine is seeking more American support for its war efforts against Russia, at a time when Moscow is intensifying its strikes on energy facilities across the country and continuing to advance on the battlefield.