The latest update on Tomahawk missiles in 2025 is that the United States is considering supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine to enhance its long-range strike capabilities deep inside Russian territory.
Key points:

• The U.S. is weighing the sale/supply of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, with potential for long-range strikes inside Russia.
• Russia views this as a potential major escalation and is analyzing targeting control issues.
• The missile's range of 2,500 km allows hitting strategic targets far inside Russian territory.
• U.S. Vice President and military officials have publicly discussed the issue; President Trump holds the final decision.
• U.S. Marine Corps is retiring some Tomahawk launchers for mobility reasons, but systems can be adapted for Ukrainian use.
• Tomahawk Block V upgrades continue, enhancing targeting and maritime strike capabilities.
• Japan is also receiving Tomahawk missile enhancements to its naval forces.

This development is part of the broader context of the Ukraine-Russia conflict and U.S. military support considerations.

About Tomahawk missile

• The Tomahawk missile (BGM-109) is an American long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile primarily launched from ships and submarines to strike fixed land targets with high precision.
• It can fly low to evade radar, navigate via GPS, inertial systems, and terrain contour mapping, and carry either conventional or nuclear warheads.
• The missile is about 6 meters long, has a range of up to approximately 2,400 km (1,500 miles), and travels at about 885 km/h (550 mph).
• There are multiple variants of the Tomahawk, including the modern Block IV and Block V versions.
• These versions have enhanced capabilities such as in-flight target retargeting, loitering over battlefields awaiting orders, two-way satellite data links for status updates, improved anti-jam GPS, and the ability to strike moving maritime targets (Block Va) or use multiple-effect warheads (Block Vb).
• The Tomahawk missile has been extensively used by the U.S. Navy, Royal Australian Navy, and Royal Navy for precision strikes, with over 2,350 operational uses since its first combat deployment in 1991.
• Its modern use includes strikes in conflict zones such as Yemen in 2024. It is considered a versatile and mature weapon for precision long-range strike missions.

In summary, the Tomahawk missile is a highly capable, long-range cruise missile notable for precision strikes from sea and submarine platforms, with advanced guidance, retargeting, and battlefield flexibility

Potential Tomahawk supply to Ukraine

• Request from Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked the U.S. to provide long-range Tomahawk missiles, which could be supplied either directly or via European allies. Supporters of the plan argue this would allow Ukraine to strike high-value targets deep within Russian territory.
• U.S. consideration: In late September 2025, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed the U.S. is reviewing the request, with the final decision resting with President Donald Trump.
• Russian reaction: Moscow has warned that providing Tomahawks to Ukraine would be a serious escalation, though Russian officials downplayed the missile's ability to change the course of the war. 

Block V upgrade and modernization

• Recertification: The U.S. Navy and manufacturer Raytheon are continuing the recertification and modernization program for existing Tomahawk missiles, which extends their service life by 15 years and converts them to the advanced Block V standard.

Block V features: The Block V series includes three variants:

• Block V (Base): An updated version of the Block IV Tactical Tomahawk with upgraded navigation and communication systems.
• Block Va (Maritime Strike Tomahawk—MST): A new anti-ship variant designed to hit moving targets at sea, with U.S. naval destroyers and submarines set to receive this capability by the end of September 2025 and 2026, respectively.
• Block Vb: Features a Joint Multiple Effects Warhead System (JMEWS) for striking more diverse land-based targets.
• Production: Raytheon received a $401.2 million contract in December 2024 for the full-rate production of 131 Block V Tomahawks for the U.S. and allies. 

Acquisition by allies

• Japan: The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force began integrating Tomahawk missile capabilities on a Kongo-class destroyer in September 2025. Japan accelerated its acquisition by opting for an initial batch of Block IV missiles in addition to later Block V variants.
• Australia: The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) successfully conducted its first-ever Tomahawk missile test-fire in December 2024, launched from a Hobart-class destroyer. The RAN is acquiring both Block IV and Block V versions.
• United Kingdom: The Royal Navy is continuing to upgrade its Tomahawk inventory to the Block V standard, with a program underway since 2024. 

Recent operational use
Middle East: U.S. and U.K. naval forces have continued to use Tomahawk missiles in combat, including strikes against Houthi rebel sites in Yemen throughout 2024 and 2025. A U.S. official stated that in June 2025, submarines fired 30 Tomahawk missiles at Iranian nuclear sites. 

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