Japan is determined to purchase Tomahawk missiles for defense against the DPRK before it gets hypersonic weapons and modernizes the Type 12 missile
Japan has increased its interest in the U.S. Tomahawk sea-launched cruise missiles to improve the country's defense capabilities.
Here's What We Know
North Korea's military activity, which a few days ago successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads, is causing neighboring countries to think about increasing their defense capabilities. South Korea and Japan are especially concerned.
Last month it became known that Tokyo wants to buy the Tomahawk. The cost of one Block IV level missile is about $1.5-2 million. In 2026, the modernization of the Japanese Type 12 missile, which will be able to hit targets at a range of 1200 km, will be finished. Right now, the launch range is a relatively modest 200 kilometers.
Japan, however, is not ready to wait four years. The Land of the Rising Sun would like to get its Tomahawk sooner, so that in the future it can have both the American missiles and the Type 12 with an increased launch range in its arsenal. By the way, the Type 12 will be installed not only on ships, ground vehicles and aircraft, but also on submarines.
The Japanese missile is designed primarily to defeat enemy ships. But the fact that Tokyo wants to buy the Tomahawk suggests that Japan wants a weapon that will allow it to strike enemy military bases. Moreover, the introduction of U.S. cruise missiles can be described in detail in the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Program Guidelines and the Medium-Term Defense Program. The Japanese authorities intend to revise these documents by the end of the year. By the way, only the United States and the United Kingdom currently carry the Tomahawk, which means Japan could become only the third country to receive Raytheon's missiles.
In conclusion, we should add that Japan is preparing to become one of the operators of hypersonic weapons. But this will happen by 2030.
Source: Naval News
