Ukraine has launch options for Tomahawks, main need is intel, expert says

Aviation expert and leading researcher at the State Aviation Museum Valeriy Romanenko spoke about this on Espreso TV.

“I even checked the root pylon of an Su‑24 — a Tomahawk weighs just under 1.5 tonnes, and that root pylon can hold over 2 tonnes. The main thing is to get the Tomahawk and obtain permission, and there’s one issue I stopped at. So, about the Tomahawk and the launcher: the launcher is a tube. Tomahawks use containerized launches, and we can put that tube on any truck. No problem — if the issue is the need for a fixed launcher, you can have it on a stationary launcher or on any truck. Also, the U.S. Marine Corps is retiring over 1,000 truck‑mounted launchers. In addition, they can be carried under an Su‑24. As I’ve already said, at minimum two missiles can be fired from an Su‑24, like when we launched Storm Shadow. Practically no problems here,” he said.

Valeriy Romanenko noted that what Ukraine actually needs is diagnostic equipment to check the missile before launch, as well as reconnaissance/intelligence information.

“The problem is one: you need diagnostic equipment to check the missile before launch and reconnaissance information to correctly plot the missile’s navigation route. In addition, you must upload a photo of the target to ensure the missile homes in with high precision at the final stage — not just arrive in the target area but strike accurately. For that you need appropriate information, satellite photos, and so on. That’s the most difficult part — not the launcher, but the equipment and the intelligence needed to plot the flight routes of these missiles,” the aviation expert added.