US may deploy Tomahawk cruise missiles and LRHW hypersonic weapons in Japan

Japan is in talks with the United States to deploy ground-launched Tomahawk missiles and LRHW (Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon) on its territory. The island of Kyushu is being considered as a location.

Here's What We Know

In January this year, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with US President Joe Biden to discuss further strengthening the military alliance between the two nations. Before the meeting of the two countries' leaders it was reported that Japan wants to buy up to 500 Tomahawk missiles for $1.5 billion and will spend another $832 million for technical support of Aegis ships.

The United States has long been working on developing hypersonic LRHW weapons. The system is expected to be installed on the USS Zumwalt in 2025. The Virginia submarine will receive hypersonic weapons by 2029.

Late last year, the US Army received the first ground-based Typhoon missile system developed by Lockheed Martin. It can use Tomahawk missiles with a launch range of up to 1,800km and Standard Missile-6 (SM-6).

The Typhoon is based on the Mk 41 vertical launch system. Lockheed Martin sent a Typhoon battery with four launchers and ground equipment to the military in early December to prepare for the exercise.

If all goes according to plan, the Typhoon will be fielded in late 2023. It is possible that in the future, the system could use a new version of the SM-6 missile that can reach hypersonic speeds. It is in development and is called SM-6 Block IB.

Source: Sankei