Tomahawk Missiles Can Now Be Launched In A Different Way
- 14.10.2025, 9:25
A new way has been proposed in the US.
At the AUSA 2025 exhibition, the US company Oshkosh Defense unveiled a family of FMAV (Family of Multi-mission Autonomous Vehicles), which includes a large X-MAV platform capable of carrying and launching Tomahawk cruise missiles. Analysts point out that this development could accelerate the transfer of long-range weapons to Ukraine, writes "Zerkalo Nedeli. Ukraine".
The company positions the systems as production-ready solutions that should enhance long-range precision fire, provide mobility in harsh environments and offer scalable autonomy. The platforms can also carry the MLRS family of munitions, PrSM and Switchblade 600 attack drones.
The FMAV family is divided into three variants by size and purpose. The largest, the Extreme Multi-Mission Autonomous Vehicle (X-MAV), is shown with four Tomahawk missiles. The appearance of this combat vehicle could be an important step for Ukraine in strengthening its missile shield, Militarny observers note. In their opinion, the new system provides a real opportunity to deploy Tomahawk cruise missiles on ground-based platforms - something the Armed Forces have not had in their arsenal so far.
X-MAV is built on a 5×5 wheeled HEMTT (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck) chassis - a platform that Oshkosh already uses in its other developments, in particular the LVSR and PLS. The vehicle has an armored two-seat cab and is equipped with a hydraulically lifted launcher for four cruise missile launch modules. Launches are angled, providing flexibility in positioning and speed of deployment.
Analysts note that this configuration compares favorably to the U.S. Typhon (Strategic Mid-range Fires System) built by Lockheed Martin. Typhon also uses the HEMTT chassis, but the launch system is designed as a large 12-meter ISO container with four Mark 41 ship launch cells, which are lifted vertically.
The main advantage of the X-MAV is its compactness and mobility. The smaller size makes it easier to transport, camouflage and reduce launch preparation time. This makes the system more suitable for use in modern combat, where the speed of changing positions and stealth play a key role.
According to experts, the demonstration of X-MAV opens a real alternative to Typhon for Ukraine. Typhon was previously seen as the only option for ground deployment of Tomahawk, but its complex design and limited number of systems made it less likely to be transferred to Ukraine.
The emergence of an off-the-shelf, mass-produced and compact system like the X-MAV means that Ukraine could potentially get a ground-based carrier for Tomahawk more quickly without having to develop a separate launcher from scratch. This, in turn, could enhance the range and depth of the AFU's strike capabilities, providing the ability to engage enemy strategic targets at a significant distance.