For the first time, Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force conducted a…
For the first time, Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force conducted a combat launch of an American Tomahawk cruise missile from one of its military vessels.
Consensus
- Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force conducted the first operational launch of a Tomahawk cruise missile from a naval vessel.
- The launch took place in the Pacific Ocean.
- The missile was launched from the destroyer JS Chokai (also referred to as 'Tōkai').
- The launch was supported by the U.S. Navy.
- The test was successful and confirmed the capabilities of the ship and its crew.
- The Tomahawk missile has a range of 1,600 km.
- Japan plans to equip four additional Aegis destroyers with Tomahawk launch capability.
- Japan intends to purchase up to 400 Tomahawk missiles of Block IV and Block V variants by the 2027 fiscal year.
Points of divergence
- The JS Chokai is scheduled to return to its base in Sasebo in autumn 2026. — kommersant
- Japan became the third country after Australia and the Netherlands to launch Tomahawk from a surface combatant, excluding the U.S. — kommersant
- The launch occurred near the California coast. — interfax
Coverage (2 sources)
- Japan conducts first launch of Tomahawk cruise missile from its own ship — Коммерсантъ
- Japan's Self-Defense Forces first launched a Tomahawk cruise missile from their own ship — Интерфакс