A Japanese destroyer is in the US receiving modifications that will allow the warship to carry Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Tomahawks represent not only a major boost to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force’s firepower, but they’ll also pave the way for Japan’s forces to develop their own stand-off missile capabilities in the future.
Late last month, the JMSDF announced that its Kongo-class destroyer JS Chokai was on its way to the US to be modified to carry Tomahawks and receive training for the ship’s crew. The process will take about a year and will be completed in September 2026. Before the vessel sails back to Japan, Tokyo will receive the first of the Tomahawks it bought from the US.
Before Chokai left Yokosuka Base in Japan last month, it also conducted a mock loading drill with assistance from US Navy personnel using dummy Tomahawks. The training helped familiarize the ship’s crew with Tomahawk operation procedures, the Japanese Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
Japan’s acquisition of Tomahawks and support systems has been in the works for years now. US Navy personnel began training their Japanese counterparts on the Tomahawk missile launch system in March 2024. Before that, the US announced the sale of 400 Tomahawks — 200 Block IVs and 200 Block Vs.
Japan’s defense ministry has fast-tracked the delivery and integration of Tomahawk missiles as it builds up offensive capabilities in response to China’s military growth and rising Indo-Pacific tensions. The ministry said that the Tomahawks will supplement Japan’s early purchases of domestically made stand-off missiles, part of a broader effort to strengthen the navy’s ability to repel an invasion.
The Block IV Tomahawks, designed by RTX Corporation, have estimated ranges up to 1,000 miles, and the range of the Block Vs is said to be even farther. These also feature several upgrades to enhance their viability as a long-range weapon for maritime targets. The dual role stands to be particularly useful in the Indo-Pacific.
Navy surface ships and submarines, as well as the Army’s new Mid-Range Capability, or Typhon, system that China objects to, can launch Tomahawk cruise missiles. The value of the missiles is the precision and long reach that allow systems to fire from outside the range of many enemy systems.
It’s a reliable weapon that has been proven in combat. A US submarine, for instance, lobbed Tomahawks at one of Iran’s nuclear sites during Operation Midnight Hammer, a campaign to cripple its nuclear program through missile strikes and stealth bomber operations.
Fielding the Tomahawk missiles aboard the Chokai and other Aegis-equipped destroyers will mark a major leap in the JMSDF’s capabilities, extending its reach and adding a potent new long-range strike option to the arsenal. The addition turns platforms traditionally for air and missile defense into counterstrike platforms, a priority for Japan as it watches China and North Korea with concern, and fills a gap until new capabilities arrive.
The JMSDF said last month that “our stand-off defense capabilities are steadily progressing as we strengthen ties with the US Navy and build readiness.”
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