If Tomahawks too costly, fund Ukraine’s Flamingos instead, Austrian expert says

This opinion was expressed in an interview with Ukrinform by Austrian defense expert and a senior lecturer at the National Defense Academy of the Austrian Armed Forces Gustav Gressel.

“I’m rather skeptical about this. Ukraine would need not only Tomahawk missiles but also Typhoon launchers — ground-based systems. The question then is, how many would there be? And who would pay for them? Europeans would likely have to pay Americans for such supplies. What’s the cost per shot? What are the alternatives?” Gressel said, commenting on discussions about possible Tomahawk deliveries to Ukraine.

According to the expert, the conventional Tomahawk has a range of about 1,600 kilometers, while newer versions can reach slightly farther. But Gressel emphasized the economic factor: “If the unit price is enormous, it might be smarter to give Ukraine the same amount of money so it could build more Flamingos instead of buying expensive Tomahawks.”

At the same time, he did not rule out a different U.S. choice:

“If the Americans really initiate deliveries, I would bet more on JASSM or similar systems. The U.S. is now developing cruise missiles meant to be cheaper and mass-produced. Two prototypes already exist, and if they go into serial production, that would be a more sensible solution, in my view, because there would be more of them.”

Gressel also commented on Ukraine’s strikes against Russian military-industrial facilities, including oil refineries. He noted that such attacks have a tangible effect, though the consequences unfold gradually — through inflation, higher alternative costs, and other economic impacts on the aggressor.

“These effects, which make the war harder for Russia, appear only over time — but they grow stronger over time. That’s why this campaign should continue. I hope Ukraine manages to do so, and then we’ll see the results,” he added.

As reported by Ukrinform, earlier U.S. President Donald Trump said that Ukraine could receive Tomahawk cruise missiles if Russia refused a peaceful settlement.

Photo: Stephan Röhl / Flickr