Japan will spend almost $2.5 billion to buy Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of over 1600 km and their integration into the Aegis system

The story of Japan's purchase of American Tomahawk cruise missiles is coming to an end. Tokyo is taking the final steps toward signing a deal with the Pentagon.

Here's What We Know

Japanese officials this month finalized a $51.4 billion defense budget for the new fiscal year and approved a decision to double defense spending over five years. Nearly $2.5 billion of that money will be spent on the purchase of Tomahawk missiles. Japan has allocated $10.6 billion for the development of "missile capabilities," which will allow strikes against enemy military facilities in the event of conflict.

Information about the purchase of Tomahawk appeared in the fall. As it has become known now, Japan will spend $1.6 billion to purchase Tomahawk with a launch range of more than 1,600 kilometers. The number is not specified. The cost per missile for the U.S. Armed Forces averages $1.7 million, although the latest contract hints at $1.5 million.

Japan's Defense Ministry said the price issue has not yet been agreed upon. Deployment of the missiles will begin after the spring of 2026. Tomahawk carriers will be Japanese destroyers equipped with the Aegis missile defense system. The ships will spend $832 million for technical support.

The Raytheon Company, the producer of the Tomahawk cruise missiles and the US Department of Defense are not making any comments about this information yet. The US itself has about 4,000 missiles. The only foreign operator of the Tomahawk now is the United Kingdom. Australia wants to buy Raytheon cruise missiles along with Japan.

Source: WSJ