JMSDF destroyer
JS Chōkai
, seen here in an exercise with the US Navy.
(US Navy)
A Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) Kongo-class destroyer has become the country’s first warship to be equipped with the Tomahawk cruise missile.
The milestone was confirmed by Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) on 27 March, which stated that the destroyer, JS
Chōkai
, has completed ship modifications and crew training for the capability.
The MoD said modifications on the Aegis‑equipped destroyer included structural enhancements that began in October 2025 while the vessel was deployed to the US. The modifications and training were carried out with assistance from the US Navy, the MoD added.
With the integration and training process complete, the JMSDF will proceed with plans to carry out live-fire trials of the Tomahawk missile from
Chōkai
later in 2026 to validate this capability, the MoD said. The MoD also confirmed that delivery of Tomahawk missiles to Japan has already begun.
Chōkai
is fitted with the Mk 41 vertical launching system and the Aegis Baseline J7 combat system. Japan plans to eventually field the missile across its fleet of Aegis‑equipped destroyers, which include Kongō‑, Atago‑ and Maya‑class vessels, all of which are compatible with the weapon.
The Tomahawk has an operational range of about 1,600 km, enabling targets to be struck deep inland from surface combatants operating at sea.
Japan is acquiring the Tomahawk missile as part of efforts to rapidly strengthen its stand‑off defence capabilities.
While Japan is pursuing the early acquisition of domestically developed stand‑off missiles, the Tomahawk programme is positioned as a complementary measure to accelerate the fielding of long‑range strike capabilities.
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