Gen. Jack Keane, Fox News senior strategic analyst, states that President Donald Trump was integral to Israel’s military achievement that facilitated the peace agreement on ‘Kudlow.’
President Donald Trump is weighing the possibility of selling long-range, precision Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine to aid the country’s ability to retaliate during its ongoing efforts to stave off Russia’s invasion.
“They have a dire need for Patriots. They expressed interest in obtaining Tomahawks, which would be a significant advancement,” Trump remarked on Sunday following discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. They are scheduled to convene in Washington on Friday to explore avenues for bolstering Ukraine’s air defenses and intensifying pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“They expressed their desire to acquire Tomahawks. We addressed this topic, and we’ll see what happens. I might need to consult with Russia regarding the Tomahawks, frankly,” Trump added. “Do they desire Tomahawks being directed towards them? I believe not.”
Trump’s contemplation of selling Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine surfaces as he persists in his endeavor to conclude Russia’s conflict with Ukraine via negotiations, given that the sophisticated cruise missiles could potentially extend the range of Ukrainian strikes to encompass more targets within Russia. Russia has asserted that Ukraine obtaining Tomahawks would constitute a “grave escalation.”
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The USS Dewey (DDG 105) executes a Tomahawk missile test flight in 2018. (DVIDS/U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Devin M. Langer / Fox News)
Manufactured by Raytheon, a business division of RTX Corporation, Tomahawk cruise missiles are precision, long-range missiles employed by the U.S. military since 1983 and utilized in numerous strikes since the Gulf War.
Tomahawks have recently been deployed to strike Houthi positions in Yemen, as well as in U.S. operations against Iranian nuclear facilities. The U.S. stated it launched 30 Tomahawks from submarines during the Iranian strikes, in conjunction with other ordnance, such as bunker-buster bombs delivered by B-2 stealth aircraft.
According to Raytheon, the missiles have a range close to 1,000 miles and, being maneuverable cruise missiles, are capable of traversing heavily defended airspace. Enhanced versions have the capability to hover over targets and can be re-tasked mid-flight to engage different targets.
President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are in discussions regarding Ukraine potentially acquiring Tomahawk cruise missiles made in the U.S. (TIERNEY L CROSS/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
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| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX | RTX CORP. | 159.38 | +0.54 | +0.34% |
Tomahawk missiles have versions that can be deployed from surface vessels, submarines, and land-based platforms.
Within the U.S. armed forces, the Navy has historically been the primary user of the Tomahawk missile, though both the Army and Marine Corps have taken steps to procure land-based launch systems.
The Air Force previously employed a model that was retired following the Cold War under the terms of an arms control treaty.
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If a deal is finalized, Ukraine would not be the first international entity to procure and utilize Tomahawk missiles.
The United Kingdom, Australia, and the Netherlands currently operate Tomahawks with their respective naval forces, while Japan has placed an order for 400 Tomahawks for its naval forces, with delivery anticipated within the coming years.
The crew aboard the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Annapolis (SSN 760) successfully launches Tomahawk cruise missiles just off the California coast as part of a Tomahawk Flight Test (TFT) on June 26, 2018. (DVIDS/U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ronald Gutridge / Fox News)
At this moment, the specific variant that Ukraine would acquire should the U.S. approve a sale remains unclear, although a report by The War Zone pointed out that Ukraine currently lacks naval vessels, submarines, or land-based launch systems capable of deploying Tomahawk missiles.
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Consequently, should Ukraine proceed with acquiring Tomahawk missiles from the U.S., it would most likely employ the land-based version, and it would also need to secure a compatible launching platform.
Caitlin McFall from Fox News Digital contributed to this article.
