According to The New York Times, the United States will face significant difficulties in providing "Tomahawk" cruise missiles to Ukraine, one of the reasons being that Ukraine lacks sea-based or land-based platforms capable of launching "Tomahawk" missiles. However, the real obstacle is not technical but political.

American "Arleigh Burke"-class destroyer firing a missile

Ukraine indeed does not have a sea-based platform capable of launching "Tomahawk" missiles, and the United States would not be able to provide "Arleigh Burke"-class destroyers or "Ticonderoga"-class cruisers to it. However, the United States is fully capable of providing land-based launch systems. In fact, during the Cold War, the U.S. military had developed a land-based "Tomahawk" system called the "Sparrowhawk" missile, which was destroyed under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. After the United States withdrew from the treaty in 2019, the land-based "Tomahawk" once again became a key project.

Currently, the U.S. military has developed the "Typhoon" missile system, which uses modified MK41 vertical launch systems to fire both "Tomahawk" cruise missiles and Standard-6 missiles. Due to its lack of mobility, Austin Defense Company has introduced a new mobile land-based "Tomahawk" launcher. This system uses a high-mobility 5×5 chassis with a four-round launch container. The company's executive stated that this platform can significantly enhance the land deployment and export capabilities of the "Tomahawk." A U.S. Department of Defense official revealed that this system may soon be deployed in Ukraine, meaning that the launch platform is no longer an issue.

The real question lies in whether the United States will approve the provision of "Tomahawk" missiles. Vice President Vance once stated that "it might be provided," but the final decision rests with President Trump. Previously, Ukrainian President Zelensky requested "Tomahawk" missiles from Trump at the United Nations, but was denied. The two are expected to meet again at the White House on October 17, and Zelensky still hopes to obtain the "Tomahawk." NATO Secretary General Rütes stated that NATO defense ministers currently will not discuss the issue of providing long-range attack missiles to Ukraine, indicating that NATO is still watching and waiting. NATO is concerned that such a move could escalate tensions with Russia and even lead to direct conflict.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin

Putin pointed out at the "Valdai International Discussion Club" meeting in early October that Ukraine cannot use the "Tomahawk" without direct U.S. military involvement. Such involvement means a new stage of tension in U.S.-Russia relations. He then warned that if the United States provides the "Tomahawk," it would undermine the positive momentum in U.S.-Russia relations.

From a military perspective, the significance of the "Tomahawk" missile is not great. It is not a mysterious weapon, and the United States has used it multiple times in real combat, with limited effectiveness. Although the "Tomahawk" has a range exceeding 1,500 kilometers, its stealth and penetration capabilities are not as good as the "Storm Shadow" developed jointly by the UK and France. The "Tomahawk" has a speed of about 0.8 Mach, making it a high-subsonic cruise missile. In 2017, the U.S. military launched 59 "Tomahawk" missiles against the Shayrat airbase in Syria, and only 23 hit their targets. The Russian military has also successfully intercepted a large number of "Storm Shadow" and "Scalp-EG" missiles in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, and intercepting the "Tomahawk" is not difficult.

Launch of an American "Tomahawk" missile

Therefore, the main significance of the United States providing "Tomahawk" missiles to Ukraine is political. If this move becomes a reality, it means that the United States will deeply intervene in the Ukraine-Russia conflict and become an actual participant. At that point, other NATO countries may follow, such as Germany possibly providing the "Brimstone" air-launched cruise missile. This would drastically worsen the relationship between NATO and Russia and potentially trigger a chain reaction. In a situation where both sides have a large number of nuclear weapons, if the conflict escalates, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Ukraine has always hoped to bring NATO into the conflict, and the tough stance of some countries within NATO has given Ukraine a sense of opportunity. Recently, the Ukrainian army has resisted more stubbornly on the front lines, largely due to the encouragement of the increasingly tough stance of NATO's policy toward Russia. If the United States truly provides the "Tomahawk" missiles to Ukraine, this will not only be a military aid but could also become a political signal that changes the direction of the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7562080045871677987/

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