Beyond Tomahawks: Expert outlines missiles Ukraine needs
A military analyst explained why Typhon missiles are more effective for Ukraine than Tomahawks.
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Tomahawk missile / © Getty Images
Ukraine would prioritize acquiring modified Typhon missile systems over classic Tomahawk missiles because they are designed for launches from ground-based platforms, military analyst and Territorial Defense Forces serviceman Oleksandr Musiienko said on the national telethon.
Why Ukraine needs Typhons
Musiienko says the main challenge with Tomahawk missiles is that Ukraine lacks sea-based carriers, such as ships or submarines, typically used for launches. The Typhon version, by contrast, has a range of 1,400–1,600 km and can be launched from mobile ground platforms.
“Regarding Tomahawks, discussions currently suggest these could be missiles in the Typhon version with a range of 1,400–1,600 km. They are modified for launches from ground-based systems. Tomahawk missiles are typically used by the United States from ships. Ukraine does not have such capabilities because it lacks carriers able to launch these missiles from the sea,” military analyst Oleksandr Musiienko said.
The analyst said that about 100 such missiles, combined with drones, would enable Ukrainian Armed Forces to strike critical Russian facilities linked to the Black Sea and Baltic Sea regions. Two-thirds of Russia’s petroleum product exports pass through these ports.
Strikes on this infrastructure, Musiienko believes, align with Washington’s economic interests. The administration of President Donald Trump is seeking to push Russia out of the global energy market in order to increase the share of oil from the United States and Venezuela.
Political decision, Pentagon stance
Musiienko says the issue of arms transfers is now purely political. According to available information, the Pentagon is considering allocating a certain number of Typhon systems without undermining its own defense capabilities.
“This is a political decision, but it is positive that attention is returning to it and that awareness of pressure on Russia exists within the U.S. establishment and among politicians,” the expert concluded.