Japan acquires Tomahawk missile capability

In late July 2026 Japan’s Maritime Self‑Defense Force demonstrated a new long‑range strike ability by successfully firing an RGM‑109 Tomahawk cruise missile from the Aegis‑equipped destroyer JS Chōkai during a test at a U.S. naval range. The launch completed the ship’s modification and certification, making Japan the third non‑U.S. nation—alongside Australia and the Netherlands—to operate Tomahawks from surface warships. The Ministry of Defense noted a FY 2026 budget of roughly $694 million to equip five destroyers with this capability and outlined further fleet modernization.

The following day, officials and analysts framed the test as a watershed moment, declaring that it ends Japan’s post‑World‑War II “self‑defence only” policy and gives the country a genuine deep‑strike capacity of about 1,600 km. The development is seen as part of a broader shift toward a NATO‑style security posture, higher defence spending, and tighter integration with U.S. supply chains, potentially reshaping the strategic balance in the Asia‑Pacific region.