Tomahawk missiles in Eastern Europe. Missile threat and responses to it
Experienced rocket Tomahawk Block IV in flight
American military activity in Eastern Europe is a potential threat to Russia's security. The main risks of this kind are associated with the deployment of existing and future missile systems in the region. In particular, the emergence of Tomahawk missiles on various carriers and the fundamental possibility of a strike using them can lead to the most serious consequences.
Missile threat
Despite their advanced age, Tomahawk cruise missiles are still one of the most important elements of the US Navy's strike weapons system. In addition, attempts are being made to return such weapon in the arsenals of the ground forces. The fundamental possibility of using it on different platforms provides high flexibility in combat use and increases the effectiveness of a massive strike.
In all modifications, Tomahawk is a subsonic cruise missile capable of flying to a target at an altitude of several tens of meters. The flight range for missiles of the latest modifications exceeds 1500-1600 km. Guidance is provided by inertial navigation, terrain tracking and other devices. Previously, missiles were equipped with nuclear warheads; current modifications carry conventional monoblock or cluster charges weighing 450 kg.
Aegis Ashore missile system at the Romanian base Deveselu
Ground launch
Of particular concern to the Russian leadership is the fundamental possibility of deploying Tomahawks on ground platforms and facilities. This method of basing gives the missiles certain combat and tactical advantages, which makes it a noticeable threat. In addition, until recently, such products on ground installations violated the existing Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
The main source of such a threat at the moment is the Aegis Ashore missile system. One such facility has been on combat duty at the Romanian Deveselu base since 2016, and the second one is being built in Poland, at the Redzikovo base. The deadline for the construction of the latter has been repeatedly shifted, and now it is planned to be commissioned in 2022.
"Aegis Ashore" is a set of tools borrowed from warships such as Ticonderoga or Arleigh Burke, and installed on ground structures. It consists primarily of a tower with a radar station and a stationary version of the Mk 41 launcher. The installation includes three standard modules and can accommodate 24 missile containers.
Launch of "Tomahawk" from an experimental ground installation, 2019
According to official data, Aegis Ashore is a missile defense system and uses only SM-3 interceptor missiles. However, the Mk 41 installation can accept other types of missiles, incl. drum "Tomahawk", and the software of the complex can be supplemented with modules for its use. Accordingly, without much effort, the missile defense system can become a strike system.
However, the combat value of Aegs Ashore in strike configuration is not too great. So, the ammunition of the complex is limited. It is hardly necessary to reduce the already small number of anti-missiles by deploying cruise missiles instead. In addition, such a use of the complex actually renders its complex and expensive radar part useless - target designation for the Tomahawk will be issued by other means. Finally, an immovable object presents a fairly easy target for a retaliatory or preemptive strike.
Land perspective
However, in the future, a new missile system with cruise missiles, devoid of the shortcomings of the Aegis Ashore, may appear in the arsenal of the US Army. It is being developed as part of the Mid-Range Capability program and is called Typhon. It takes a few more years to complete the work, but the main capabilities of the complex are already known.
A cruise missile leaving the Mk 41 launcher of USS Farragut (DDG-99)
The battery of the Typhon complex will include four mobile launchers built on the basis of semi-trailers. Each of them will receive a lifting unit for 4 TPKs with missiles. The main ammunition of the complex can be the Tomahawk product. The use of SM-6 missiles in the original anti-aircraft or new quasi-ballistic role is also being worked out.
Unlike a stationary complex, the MRC Typhoon will be able to quickly move to the optimal position and leave it before a retaliatory strike. In this case, one battery will be able to launch up to 16 missiles in one gulp, and then reload and perform another launch. The regular command post of the battery will receive only the necessary equipment for receiving target designation and launch control. He does not need his own radar and other complex components.
Offshore platforms
The main carriers of Tomahawks at the moment are ships and submarines of the US Navy. The surface fleet uses such weapons with Mk 41 or Mk 57 launchers, and submarines launch them through torpedo tubes or dedicated launchers. There are dozens of carriers in service, each of which can carry the required number of missiles.
Rocket launch by USS Stethem (DDG-63)
Missile ammunition load depends on the type of ship. Thus, the Ticonderoga cruisers have two launchers with 122 cells. Arleigh Burke destroyers of different series have 90 or 96 cells. The latest Zumwalt-class ships carry 160 TPKs with various types of missiles. Multipurpose nuclear submarines Virginia and Los Angeles have separate launchers for 12 Tomahawks. Seawolf submarines can launch such missiles through torpedo tubes and carry 50 missiles and torpedoes. Of particular interest are four Ohio-class nuclear submarines converted from strategic missile carriers to cruise missile carriers. They have 22 launchers with 7 Tomahawks each - a total of 154 units.
Ships and submarines have known advantages. They are highly mobile and can patrol or quickly go to a given area, which they regularly demonstrate. In addition, surface and submarine ships are capable of carrying dozens of cruise missiles, as well as weapons for other purposes.
American ships regularly appear near the Russian coast, incl. in the region of Eastern Europe. Being in the waters of the Baltic or Black Sea, they can threaten our facilities at a great distance from the seas. Submarines deployed in the Mediterranean Sea have a smaller, but rather high potential.
The first seconds of the flight; the destroyer USS Chaffee (DDG-90) is firing
Missile potential
At present, the United States has the theoretical and practical capabilities to deploy Tomahawk cruise missiles in Eastern Europe and off its coasts, and on two seas at once. Even remaining within the framework of existing international agreements, the American army can concentrate dozens of surface-to-surface missiles near the Russian borders that threaten objects at a great depth of defense. At the same time, the strike force on land and at sea will retain certain opportunities for defense.
It is expected that in the future similar capabilities of the US Army will grow. The promising ground-based Typhon missile system can be used to quickly create a grouping of the right size with the desired capabilities in the required direction. In large quantities, such systems will become a very useful and dangerous addition to warships and submarines.
The missile threat in the form of naval and land-based Tomahawks must be taken into account when building our defenses. At the same time, one should not overestimate it and succumb to panic moods. Cruise missiles of this class are not fundamentally invulnerable weapons and fall within the competence of the object air defense.
The Tomahawk rocket takes off from the water. The carrier submarine USS Florida (SSGN-728) of the upgraded Ohio project was not included in the frame
There is every reason to believe that a massive volley of Tomahawk products, dozens of pieces and from different directions, will be able to create a fairly high load on Russian air defense, but will not overload or break through it. Whether there will be enough missiles for the second salvo is a big question. Also, such an attack would result in an obvious response that could rule out a second strike altogether.
Attack and defense
Thus, in order to "contain Russia", the United States can deploy large numbers of cruise missiles on various carriers in Eastern Europe. In addition, new models of equipment are being developed, with the help of which they plan to increase the similar potential of the armed forces. Naturally, all these processes pose a direct danger to our country.
However, the Russian command takes into account existing and emerging risks, and also takes measures, incl. with an eye to the future. As a result, the success of a missile attack on our facilities by existing means is unlikely - and threatens with a retaliatory strike. And it can be expected that this situation will not fundamentally change in the future. In response to the new means of attack of a potential enemy, new defense systems will appear at our western borders.
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