Powerful U.S. missile system to be stored at Okinawa’s Kadena Air Base

A powerful U.S. missile system that has been deployed in Japan for joint military exercises with the Self-Defense Forces will be stored at a key military base in Okinawa Prefecture indefinitely, according to the Okinawa Defense Bureau.

The U.S. Typhon midrange missile system is believed capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles as far as 1,600 kilometers — effectively putting parts of China and Russia within striking distance. 

The advanced weapon was deployed for the allies’ Orient Shield exercises for the first time this month. Those exercises, which began Sept. 8 and ran through Thursday, came after the Typhon was sent to Kagoshima Prefecture — another first — for the joint Valiant Shield drills with the SDF in June.