The Tomahawk is a US-made, long-range, subsonic cruise missile designed for precision strikes on high-value targets, launched from ships or submarines.

Measuring around six metres in length with a wingspan of 2.6 metres, it weighs approximately 1,510 kilograms and flies at low altitudes to evade detection, using satellite navigation and terrain-matching for accuracy.

Capable of reaching targets up to 2,500 kilometres away, the missile employs a solid-fuel rocket booster to ascend before switching to a turbofan engine for sustained flight.

In the ongoing Ukraine conflict, President Donald Trump is considering supplying Tomahawks to Kyiv to enable deeper strikes into Russian territory, a move that could pressure Moscow towards negotiations.

Russia views this potential transfer as a dangerous escalation, crossing a key red line that would severely damage bilateral relations and allow Ukraine to threaten critical infrastructure far beyond the front lines, prompting warnings from the Kremlin of heightened conflict risks.