Tokyo: The Japanese government is looking at the idea of introducing U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles on the assumption that Japan will possess counterstrike capabilities, it was learned Friday.

The government has already sounded out the U.S. side about the idea, a government source said.

The government is set to revise the country’s three key national security documents later this year, in a bid to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities drastically, planning to stipulate the possession of counterstrike capabilities.

Under the revised documents, the government is considering upgrading Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers to deploy Tomahawks.

Tomahawks have a range of over 1,000 kilometers and can be fired from land or sea.

The United States used the missiles in the Gulf War. The missiles have also been deployed by Britain.

The missiles are “highly reliable,” a senior Japanese Defense Ministry official said.

The Defense Ministry is working to extend the range of Japanese-made Type-12 surface-to-ship guided missiles to over 1,000 kilometers, so that they can be used to attack enemy ships from beyond their firing ranges.

As the improved Type-12 missiles are expected to be put into operation in fiscal 2026, however, the government is considering initially deploying Tomahawks.

Meanwhile, there are concerns about the use of foreign-manufactured defense equipment.

Prices of such equipment “could surge suddenly,” and deliveries “could be delayed,” another Defense Ministry official said.

Furthermore, some claim that Japan relying easily on U.S.-made equipment might give rise to arguments that the country does not need domestically-made missiles.

JIJI Press