Japan’s JS Chokai Heads to US for Tomahawk Missile Upgrade as Regional Tensions Rise
Japan has sent the Aegis-equipped destroyer JS Chokai to the United States for a year-long deployment that will modify the ship to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles — a major step in Tokyo’s effort to boost long-range strike capability amid growing regional security concerns.
The Chokai, a guided-missile destroyer in service with Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, will undergo weapons and systems upgrades and intensive crew training while in the U.S. The work will enable the ship to carry and launch Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs), precision cruise missiles with a range of roughly 1,000 miles. That range would allow Japanese warships to reach targets deep inside potential adversaries’ territory, including parts of China and North Korea.
The decision to equip Japanese vessels with Tomahawks follows a 2024 agreement for Tokyo to acquire 400 Tomahawk missiles from the United States. It is part of a broader push by Japan to expand its defense posture in response to what the government describes as the “most severe and complex security environment” since World War II.
Why Japan is Modernizing Its Fleet
Japan’s Defense Ministry has repeatedly pointed to Beijing’s growing naval and missile capabilities as the primary strategic challenge. In its annual white paper, Tokyo noted that China is “rapidly enhancing its military capability” and increasing activity around contested areas such as the Senkaku Islands (known as the Diaoyu Islands in China).
Recent displays of Chinese military power — including parades that showcased advanced anti-ship missiles — have heightened concern in Tokyo. At one such event, leaders from other countries, including North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, were present, underscoring complex geopolitical alignments in the region.
Japan’s defense officials say that the Tomahawk program will strengthen “stand-off defense” — the ability to deter or strike at long range to intercept or defeat invaders before they reach Japanese territory.
Tomahawk: A Deep-Land-Attack Weapon
Although Japan frames the upgrade as defensive, Tomahawks are widely regarded as offensive precision-strike weapons. Manufactured by Raytheon, the cruise missile is explicitly designed for deep land-attack missions and has been used in combat more than 2,000 times, according to the company. Tomahawks can be launched from surface ships, submarines, and certain land platforms and are valued for their ability to strike precisely at long range, even in contested airspace.
The U.S. Navy has long operated the Tomahawk, and in recent years allied navies, including the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy, have demonstrated launch capability. Australia, for example, successfully fired a Tomahawk from the destroyer HMAS Brisbane last December and plans to acquire 200 missiles to extend its own long-range strike options.
JS Chokai’s Capabilities and Modifications
The Chokai is a large and capable warship — about 528 feet long and displacing roughly 9,500 tons — with 90 vertical launch cells. Those cells currently hold a mix of anti-air, anti-ballistic, and anti-submarine missiles; they will be adapted to accommodate the Tomahawk’s strike cells. Last week, the destroyer practiced loading dummy Tomahawk rounds into its vertical launch system as an early step in the upgrade process.
Japan’s Defense Ministry has said it aims to have the Chokai ready for “actual missions” by next summer, a timetable that includes live-fire testing and extensive crew certification. The program will not only modify hardware but also focus on training sailors in Tomahawk operations and integration with Japanese command-and-control systems.
Regional Reactions and the Risk of an Arms Spiral
China responded strongly when Japan first requested Tomahawks in 2023, warning that the move would exacerbate an arms race and harm regional stability. Beijing has argued that Japan’s acquisition conflicts with the country’s post-war pacifist constitution, which historically limited Japanese forces to defensive roles.
“The moves by the US and Japan exacerbate the momentum of an arms race,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said at the time. China views the deployment of long-range strike missiles in the region as a direct security concern, and analysts warn of possible escalation if nearby states respond in kind.
North Korea, meanwhile, continues to develop missile and rocket technology and has shown off new engines and other capabilities. Moscow’s closer military ties with Pyongyang have added another layer of complexity to East Asian security dynamics.
What This Means for Japan-US Alliance
The Chokai’s trip to the United States highlights a deepening U.S.-Japan security partnership and underscores Washington’s role in supplying key strike capabilities to its allies. For Tokyo, adding Tomahawks to the Self-Defense Forces arsenal marks a notable policy shift: Japan is expanding the range and reach of its military to better deter or respond to threats far from its shores.
Critics worry that the move blurs the line between defensive and offensive postures and could draw Japan into conflicts beyond its immediate territory. Supporters argue it is a necessary modernization to protect Japan’s islands and maritime approaches amid increasingly assertive neighbors.
Looking Ahead
As the Chokai undergoes its year-long upgrade and training program, Japan will continue to refine doctrine, targeting, and rules of engagement for long-range strike. The arrival of Tomahawk-capable ships in East Asian waters will be closely watched in Beijing, Pyongyang, and capitals across the region.
For now, Tokyo says the modifications are about deterrence and preparedness. Whether the presence of Tomahawk-armed Japanese destroyers stabilizes the region through stronger deterrence — or unintentionally accelerates an arms competition — remains a central question for policymakers in Tokyo, Washington, and beyond.