U.S. Approves $2.35B Tomahawk Missile Sale to Japan

The United States has approved a Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Japan, providing 400 Tomahawk missiles and related equipment at an estimated cost of $2.35 billion.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the sale, which includes 200 Tomahawk Block IV All Up Rounds, 200 Tomahawk Block V AURs, and 14 Tactical Tomahawk Weapon Control Systems.

Support elements for the Tomahawk Weapon System, such as containers, feasibility studies, software, hardware, training, unscheduled missile maintenance, spares, communication equipment, operational flight tests, publications, engineering expertise, transportation, and logistical program support, are also part of the deal.

Raytheon will be the principal contractor for the sale. The proposed transaction aims to enhance Japan's capability to address current and future threats by providing a long-range, conventional surface-to-surface missile with significant standoff range, enabling Japan to counter growing security challenges.

The 400 advanced Tomahawk missiles will empower Japan to bolster its deterrence capabilities amid increasing security threats from China and North Korea. With a range of 1,600 kilometers, these weapons enable Japan to potentially strike distant enemy bases and command-and-control nodes, aligning with Tokyo's adoption of a counterstrike capability last year.

Defense Minister Minoru Kihara's recent talks in Washington indicated a shared understanding that Japan would purchase Tomahawk Block-4 missiles in the fiscal year starting April 2025, a year earlier than initially planned. Japan plans to buy 200 of the earlier Tomahawk versions between fiscal 2025 and 2027, with the remainder being the latest Tomahawk Block-5 missiles.

The Defense Ministry is also exploring the possibility of acquiring domestically produced standoff missiles earlier, while the range of its Type-12 standoff missiles is extended under an initial five-year plan.