Japan has finalized an agreement with the United States for the procurement of 400 land-based Tomahawk cruise missiles. The decision reflects Japan's strategic intent to enhance its capability to strike the territories of potential adversaries, with a focus on concerns related to China and North Korea, as reported by Kyodo News.

Under the arrangement facilitated through the US foreign military sales program, Japan is set to allocate approximately USD 1.7 billion for the acquisition of up to 400 Tomahawk missiles and associated equipment. As per reports by Kyodo News, the Japanese Defence Ministry indicates that Japan will disburse the payments over three years, commencing from the fiscal year 2025 in April next year.

Japan's initial plan involved acquiring the latest Tomahawk Block-5 missiles in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 for deployment on its Maritime Self-Defense Force Aegis destroyers. However, a shift in strategy occurred in October when Japan opted to advance the purchase by a year, securing up to 200 units of the earlier Block-4 model.

In an official exchange of documents with Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara in Tokyo, US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel announced that US forces would commence training the Japan Self-Defense Forces in the use of Tomahawks, with the training expected to begin as early as March.

According to Kyodo News, Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara stated that the government's choice to expedite the acquisition of Tomahawk missiles, with a strike range of approximately 1,500 kilometers, was prompted by a growing and challenging security environment.

In December, Japan approved a record-high defense budget of 7.9 trillion yen for fiscal 2024, part of a five-year plan to enhance its defense capabilities. The budget, a 16.5% increase from the previous fiscal year, focuses on longer-range strike capabilities.

The allocation includes 734.0 billion yen for developing counterstrike capabilities against targets in enemy territory, addressing security challenges from China, Russia, and North Korea's nuclear and missile development.

Out of the allocated 734 billion yen, the Japanese government earmarked 96.1 billion yen for an upgraded version of the Ground Self-Defense Force's Type-12 land-to-ship guided missile with an extended 1,000-kilometer range.

Additionally, over 80 billion yen will be invested in the development and manufacture of hypersonic-guided missiles, 32.3 billion yen for new precision-guided surface-to-ship and surface-to-surface missiles, and 200 million yen for modifications to Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers.

As reported by Kyodo News, Japan has allocated 373.1 billion yen to construct two additional Aegis destroyers, slated for commissioning in fiscal years 2027 and 2028. This decision serves as an alternative to the abandoned plan of deploying the land-based Aegis Ashore system.

The Japanese government has committed 565.3 billion yen to bolster its capabilities for the rapid deployment of personnel and transportation of equipment, involving the procurement of three landing crafts.

Image source: ANI