Up to 500 Tomahawk cruise missiles produced in the United States are being considered by the Japanese Ministry of Defense for purchase by fiscal 2027, The Yomiuri reports.
180918-N-VG727-1129 PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 18, 2018) A tomahawk cruise missile launches from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) for a live-fire exercise during Valiant Shield 2018. Valiant Shield is a U.S. only, biennial field training exercise (FTX) with a focus on integration of joint training in a blue-water environment among U.S. forces. This training enable real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking, and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land, and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class William Collins III)
In his summit meeting with U.S. President Biden on the Nov. 13, Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida confirmed the intention to advance talks on the purchase and to accelerate preparations toward the acquisition of “counterattack capability.”
It is possible that the size of the purchase will change in the future because of factors such as the manufacturing capacity in the U.S.
