Defence Japan acquiring US Tomahawk cruise missiles

The Yomiuri Shimbun daily newspaper was among those reporting on Friday that Tokyo was in the final stages of discussions with the US government over purchasing the medium-range missiles, which are launched from the sea. Asked about the reports, top government spokesperson Hirokazu Matsuno said ministers were "studying" the possibility but nothing had been decided. Hours after Matsuno's comments, North Korea fired another "unspecified ballistic missile" off its east coast, Seoul's military said. The newspaper said the Korean Peninsula would be within range of the missiles, depending on the launch area, citing unidentified government sources.

Click to expand...

Tomahawk cruise missiles deployed by the United States would do just that because they fly at a low altitude and have a range of about 1,000 miles (1,610 kilometers). Tomahawks have proven capability, with about 2,000 launches in combat. Defense Ministry officials said they were considering purchasing the Tomahawk as a stop-gap measure until a domestically developed missile is upgraded to extend its range from roughly 200 km to about 1,000 km. Plans call for deploying the improved missile from around fiscal 2026. Concerns are being raised that the Kishida administration is using the proposed Tomahawk cruise missile to establish a fait accompli for possessing the capability to attack enemy bases preparing a launch. Even a lawmaker from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has raised concerns that stronger opposition could arise due to the Tomahawk missile's reputation as an offensive weapon. Japan has inquired about purchasing Tomahawks in the past, but U.S. officials turned a deaf ear to the requests.

Click to expand...