When will Japan receive all its Tomahawk missiles?

Japan has an order for about 400 missiles to be delivered by March 2028. The Defense Ministry confirmed in March that the first shipment had been received.

How much did Japan pay for the Tomahawk missiles?

Japan's order, signed in 2024, was worth $2.35 billion, one of the biggest foreign orders for the weapon.

Why has Japan's Tomahawk delivery been disrupted?

The U.S. informed Tokyo in April that deliveries would be disrupted because of use of the missiles in the war against Iran.

Autonomous DrivingJapan Times Tech9h agoJul 31, 2026, 13:00 JST3 min read

Japan test-fires Tomahawk cruise missile from warship for first time

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Key takeaway

Japan conducted its first test launch of a Tomahawk cruise missile from a warship on Wednesday, successfully demonstrating operational capability to strike distant targets.
The test is a milestone in Japan's effort to deter China and North Korea through long-range strike weapons; Japan has ordered about 400 missiles from the U.S. scheduled for delivery through March 2028, though U.S. use of Tomahawks in its war against Iran has disrupted the delivery timeline.

3 Key Points

What happened
Japan launched a Tomahawk cruise missile from the destroyer JS Chokai in the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, marking the nation's first operational test of ship-based long-range strike capability. The Defense Ministry confirmed the missile launched successfully and verified crew proficiency in conducting the launch under operational conditions.
Why it matters
Tomahawk missiles are central to Japan's new military strategy to deter aggression from China and North Korea by developing long-range strike capabilities. Japan has ordered about 400 missiles from the U.S., with deliveries scheduled through March 2028; the successful test demonstrates Japan can now execute this deterrence posture operationally.
What to watch
Japan's $2.35 billion order, signed in 2024, faces delivery disruption because the U.S. has used Tomahawks in its war against Iran. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi confirmed there are no changes to the delivery schedule for other Tomahawk missiles, though the April report of disruption suggests timing uncertainty remains.

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In Depth

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Japan's Defense Ministry announced Wednesday that it had conducted the nation's first test launch of a Tomahawk cruise missile from the destroyer JS Chokai in the Pacific Ocean. The test marked a operational milestone: the ministry confirmed in a statement that "the missile can be launched successfully under operational conditions, including verification of the crew's proficiency in conducting the launch." The Tomahawk is centerpiece to Tokyo's new military strategy of acquiring long-range strike capabilities to deter what it identifies as aggression from China and North Korea.

The test comes as Japan works to fulfill an ambitious procurement plan. Japan has an order with the U.S. for about 400 Tomahawk missiles scheduled for delivery by March 2028. The order, valued at $2.35 billion and signed in 2024, ranks among the largest foreign purchases of the weapon. The Defense Ministry confirmed that the first shipment had already been received by March of this year, when Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the arrival publicly.

The procurement faces a complication: in April, the U.S. informed Japan that deliveries would be disrupted because the missiles are being used in the American war against Iran. Despite the disruption, Koizumi stated that there were no changes to the delivery schedule for other Tomahawk missiles beyond those affected. The successful test launch therefore carries strategic weight—it demonstrates that Japan's military personnel are capable of executing the firing procedures operationally, even as the nation waits for the full arsenal to arrive.

Context & Analysis

Japan's first operational test of a ship-launched Tomahawk cruise missile reflects a significant shift in the nation's defense posture. For decades constrained by constitutional limits on military action, Japan has progressively expanded its strategic capabilities; the Tomahawk order and now its successful test operationalize Tokyo's stated goal of long-range strike deterrence against regional rivals. The timing is deliberate: China has steadily expanded its military capabilities in the region, and North Korea's missile programs continue to advance, creating pressure on Japan to move beyond air defense into offensive-deterrent systems.

The $2.35 billion purchase, signed in 2024 and among the largest foreign Tomahawk orders on record, underscores the scale of Japan's commitment. However, the April report that U.S. deliveries would be disrupted due to American use of Tomahawks in its Iran operations injects uncertainty into the timeline. The Defense Ministry's statement that delivery schedules for other missiles remain unchanged suggests Japan is managing the disruption, but the gap between the ordered 400 missiles and the March 2028 deadline now carries added risk. The successful test of crew proficiency and launch procedures mitigates some of that risk by proving Japan's readiness to deploy missiles as they arrive.

FAQ

When will Japan receive all its Tomahawk missiles?: Japan has an order for about 400 missiles to be delivered by March 2028. The Defense Ministry confirmed in March that the first shipment had been received.
How much did Japan pay for the Tomahawk missiles?: Japan's order, signed in 2024, was worth $2.35 billion, one of the biggest foreign orders for the weapon.
Why has Japan's Tomahawk delivery been disrupted?: The U.S. informed Tokyo in April that deliveries would be disrupted because of use of the missiles in the war against Iran.

Japan Times TechRead Original Article