WASHINGTON: The US government said Friday that it has approved the sale of up to 400 US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles to Japan for an estimated 2.35 billion dollars.

In a statement, the US government said it has notified Congress of the matter.

Japan will utilize the Tomahawk missiles in the exercise of counterstrike capabilities. The Japanese government clarified the possession of counterstrike capabilities when it revised the country’s three key national security documents last year.

The US government approved the sale of up to 200 Block IV Tomahawks and up to 200 Block V Tomahawks, the weapon’s latest version, to Japan.

“The proposed sale will improve Japan’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing a long range, conventional surface-to-surface missile with significant standoff range that can neutralize growing threats,” the US government said.

In the United States, Congress’ approval is eventually required to sell weapons.
Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said his country hopes to start procuring Tomahawks in fiscal 2025, a year earlier than planned, during his meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in October and the secretary agreed to the idea.

JIJI Press