Japan wants 12 destroyers with an upgraded Aegis system that can launch Tomahawk and shoot down Chinese ballistic missiles

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force intends to increase the number of destroyers with the Aegis missile defense system.

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Japan currently has only eight ships with Aegis. In the foreseeable future, two more destroyers will enter service with the country's Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the total number of destroyers will increase to 12 by the end of this decade.

Japan is building up its defense capabilities in response to possible aggression from North Korea and China. For the same reason, Tokyo will spend about $2.5 billion for the purchase and integration of Tomahawk cruise missiles with a launch range of over 1,600 kilometers.

Aegis is an air defense system that uses the Standard Missile (SM) and can shoot down enemy ballistic missiles with a launch range of over 5,000 km. However, Japan wants to modify Aegis to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles. More than $800 million will be allocated for this purpose.

Moreover, Japan wants to arm destroyers with a new version of the domestic Type 12 missile. After modernization it will have launch range of 1200 km. Also in the budget for fiscal year 2023 there is $100 million for the purchase of SM-6 missiles.

Source: Naval News