Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyers will soon carry United States-made Tomahawk cruise missiles and begin training and ship modifications in the U.S., Tokyo and allied officials said, a move Japanese officials described as strengthening long-range deterrence amid rising regional tensions.
The Japan Ministry of Defense said the Aegis-equipped destroyer JS Chokai, the first ship to be armed with the Tomahawk, departed Yokosuka in late September 2025 for a planned yearlong deployment to San Diego, headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s 3rd Fleet, where it will undergo modifications and crew training necessary to operate the missiles. Japanese officials said live-fire trials are scheduled for mid-2026. The first missiles are expected to be delivered to Japan by March 2026 as part of a contract Japan signed with the U.S. in January 2024 for 400 Tomahawk missiles, weapons control systems, training and sustainment support.
Tomahawk is a long-range, subsonic, precision-guided cruise missile used by the U.S. Navy for land-attack missions and launched from surface ships and submarines. The missiles have a striking range of roughly 1,600 kilometers and can operate in contested airspace with precision guidance.
“JMSDF conducted a Tomahawk mock loading drill on JS Chokai with support from the U.S. Navy. Our standoff defense capabilities are steadily progressing as we strengthen ties with the U.S. Navy and build readiness,” Japanese officials posted on the social media platform X.
Incorporating the Tomahawks will bolster Japan’s standoff self-defense capabilities by allowing the JMSDF to intercept invading vessels and land forces at greater range at a more rapid response, according to a Japan Ministry of Defense white paper.
Japanese officials have expressed concerns about the Chinese Communist Party’s growing military capabilities and intensified activity in the Indo-Pacific, along with threats posed by North Korea and Russia.
The Japanese and U.S. navies have been conducting joint training on Tomahawk operations since March 2024 to prepare JMSDF personnel for integration of the system, according to Kyodo News. Japan’s initial fielding will begin with Chokai and is expected to expand to the fleet’s other Aegis destroyers over time as deliveries and training proceed through fiscal 2027.
The deployment and modification program and the broader missile purchase represent a significant shift in Japan’s force posture by giving it longer-range strike options while keeping Tokyo’s stated goal of strengthening deterrence and defense under the Japan-U.S. security alliance.