How many Tomahawks are there in the world and how many will Ukraine receive: figures
15 October 17:26
“Tomahawks are once again at the center of big politics. What seemed to be a weapon from a bygone era yesterday is once again the subject of global bidding and expectations. Especially after US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a planned meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in which he noted that “Ukraine wants weapons, including Tomahawk systems” and added that the US “has a lot” of such missiles.
Against this backdrop, analysts began to talk about the real extent of the US arsenal and whether some of these missiles could end up in Ukraine. American analysts claim that the United States has more than 4,000 Tomahawks, but as Ukrainian aviation experts explain, these weapons are not only technically important but also symbolic – and even dozens of missiles would mean more than just new opportunities on the battlefield for Ukraine.
How Tomahawk became a legend
Aviation expert Kostyantyn Kryvolap explains in a commentary for "Komersant Ukrainian": first of all, Tomahawk is not a ballistic missile, but a cruise missile.
“And this is significant. NATO countries do not have ballistic weapons with a range of more than 300 kilometers, because such weapons are considered offensive. “The Tomahawk was created as a nuclear threat to the USSR – a low-flying missile capable of flying low over the terrain and avoiding radar,” says Kryvolap
After the US and the USSR signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF-2), Tomahawks were converted to a conventional (non-nuclear) format and left only in ship and submarine versions.
“They were used in Iraq, Syria, and during US operations in Iran. The Russians claimed to have shot them down, but there is no evidence of this – the missiles flew low, often at an altitude of up to 50 meters,” adds Kryvolap.
How many Tomahawks are there in the world?
According to the expert, about 9,000 of these missiles have been produced in the world, but a significant number have already been written off.
After the termination of the INF Treaty in 2019, the United States resumed development of ground-based launchers in response to Russia’s violation of the treaty.
“Today, there are at least four types of launchers on the market that have appeared only in recent years – in particular, Oshkosh and Lockheed Martin presented their systems in 2025. They are mobile, suitable for air transportation and rapid deployment,” says Kryvolap.
Currently, Tomahawks are available or have been ordered:
- Great Britain – about 1000 missiles (for the fleet),
- Australia – about 500,
- Japan – up to 500,
- The Netherlands – 500,
- Poland – 200-300 (contract in progress).
“If you add it all up, you get about 3,700 missiles, so the figure of 4,150 in the United States may include these exports or not – it’s hard to say for sure,” Kryvolap concludes.
US has a total of 4,150 such missiles – Financial Times
The United States has more than 4,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles, but only dozens may be available for Ukraine. Analysts warn that even if Washington gives Kyiv 20-50 of these missiles, it will not be a turning point in the war, but it could open a new page in military cooperation between the two countries.
Stacey Pettijohn, director of the defense program at the Center for a New American Security, told the Financial Times that the transfer of several dozen Tomahawks to Ukraine “will not significantly change the dynamics of the war.”
“These missiles can complement Ukraine’s long-range drones and cruise missiles in large, complex volleys for greater effect. But they still won’t be enough for sustained, deep attacks against Russia,” emphasized Stacy Pettijohn.
Mark Kansian, a former Pentagon official, adds that the United States has a total of 4, 150 Tomahawks, but most of them are in service with the Navy or transferred to allies. Out of the 200 new missiles purchased after 2022, more than 120 have already been used, and the Pentagon has requested funds for only 57 new missiles for 2026.
“Washington also needs these missiles for other areas, such as potential operations in Venezuela,” the Financial Times writes.
A symbol of an era that is gaining importance again
The Tomahawk missile is not just a weapon. It is a symbol of the Cold War, which in 2022 returned to the context of the confrontation with Russia. It represents not only technical superiority but also the political will of the West to demonstrate force without crossing the line of direct confrontation.
If Ukraine does receive these missiles, even in small numbers, it will send not so much a military signal as a strategic one.
A signal that Washington is ready to strengthen Kyiv with weapons that were considered untouchable yesterday.
