Japan has sent its first warship to the United States to undergo modifications that will enable it to operate the Tomahawk cruise missile. The Kongō-class destroyer Chōkai departed for San Diego after initial tests and inert munitions training conducted in Yokosuka.
The reorganization process and crew training are expected to be completed by September 2026.
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On September 26, the Chōkai carried out an inert Tomahawk loading drill at Yokosuka Naval Base with support from U.S. Navy personnel. According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, the training aimed to “familiarize the ship with the necessary procedures for Tomahawk operation and verify the safety management system.”
Following this exercise, the destroyer set sail for San Diego, California, where physical modifications will be carried out on the ship and crew training will be intensified to operate the new capability.
Delivery and Testing Schedule
According to the disclosed schedule, the first Tomahawk missiles are expected to be delivered to Japan by March 2026. The full set of modifications and training should be completed by September 2026, with the Chōkai scheduled to conduct live-fire tests in the summer of 2026.
A Broad Tomahawk Deployment Program
This initiative is part of the largest supply program authorized by the U.S. State Department in November 2023: 400 Tomahawk missiles valued at $2.35 billion. Under the agreement signed in 2024, Japan will receive 200 systems related to the Tomahawk Block IV and 200 Tomahawk Block V All-Up Rounds.
The Ministry of Defense described the acquisition as an emergency purchase to complement Japan’s domestic standoff missile development. In April, Japan also signed a $219 million contract with Mitsubishi to develop a missile design similar to the Tomahawk.
Integration Across the Aegis Fleet
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) plans to integrate Tomahawks into all eight Aegis destroyers currently in service — consisting of four Kongō-class, two Atago-class, and two Maya-class — as well as equip two Aegis destroyers under construction with Tomahawk launch capability.
What the Tomahawk Block V Brings
The Tomahawk Block V is a long-range attack cruise missile with modern precision capabilities. With a range of over 1,600 km, it can strike land targets and, in its finalized version, is also effective against naval targets.
Key features include GPS-assisted guidance, a multi-mode seeker, low radar cross-section, and the ability to update its flight path mid-mission, allowing retargeting against emerging threats.
Source and images: JMSDF. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
