Japan begins to integrate Tomahawk on Kongo-class destroyer

The JMSDF Kongo-class destroyer JS Chōkai being loaded with a mock Tomahawk round prior to its departure for the US where it will be modified for the weapon. (JMSDF)

Japan has taken steps to integrate the Tomahawk cruise missile onto its fleet of Aegis-equipped destroyers and will soon modify one of these warships to accommodate the weapon.

A statement released by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) on 29 September indicates that the service has begun training its crew to load mock Tomahawk rounds aboard the Kongo-class destroyer JS Chōkai.

This activity was carried out on 25 September, a day prior to the ship departing for the United States, where it was scheduled to undergo structural modifications and crew training to support Tomahawk operations, Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in a separate statement issued on 26 September.

The modifications are scheduled to continue until mid-September 2026, the MoD added.

This development follows Tokyo's signing of a letter of acceptance (LoA) with the US in January 2024, which formalised Japan's acquisition of the missiles under Washington's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) framework.

The Tomahawk acquisition is part of a broader initiative announced by Tokyo in October 2023 to accelerate the procurement of long-range precision weapons amid rising regional security concerns.

Japan originally planned to receive Block V variants of the missile in fiscal years (FYs) 2026 and 2027. However, the MoD has opted to begin acquiring Block IV variants from FY 2025 to expedite operational readiness.

In November 2023, the US Department of State approved a potential sale of up to 200 Block IV and 200 Block V Tomahawk missiles to Japan, along with 14 Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System units.