Japan will equip all Aegis destroyers with Tomahawk Block V cruise missiles with a range of more than 1,800 km by 2027

Japanese destroyers equipped with the Aegis missile defence system will receive Tomahawk cruise missiles. The upgrade of the ships will be completed by 2027.

Here's What We Know

In late February 2023, Prime Minister Fumio Kisida officially announced that the fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget includes funds for the purchase of Tomahawk cruise missiles. Japan will spend $1.6 billion to buy 400 missiles.

The destroyers with the Aegis missile defense system will have to be upgraded so that they can not only shoot down enemy air threats, but also strike ground targets. Japan will allocate another $832 million for this.

The Ministry of Defense wants to upgrade all Aegis destroyers. The Maritime Self-Defense Force has eight ships in service. Two destroyers each are based in Kanagawa and Kyoto prefectures, and the other four are based in Nagasaki. Modernization of the destroyers will start in 2024FY and continue until 2027FY. At the same time, Japan wants to retire two ships by 2028FY and commission two ships four years after that.

Japan, like Australia, buys Block V level cruise missiles. They can strike at ranges over 1,800km (including against moving objects) and are capable of changing targets during flight.

Source: Japan Times