Japan conducts first live-fire Tomahawk test from JS Chokai

Published Jul 30, 08:24 AM UTC

Japan's Ministry of Defense announced on July 30 that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) conducted its first live-fire test of a Tomahawk cruise missile from the Aegis destroyer JS Chokai (DDG-176) in the Pacific Ocean on July 29. The test, supported by the U.S. Navy, made Japan the third country outside the U.S. to fire a Tomahawk from a surface combatant, after Australia and the Netherlands. The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) confirmed the successful launch and missile flight to target but withheld details such as location, target type, and missile variant. The test followed four months of preparation after Chokai acquired launch capability in March 2026. Japan plans to equip five Aegis destroyers with Tomahawk capability, with funding of about 113.6 billion yen ($694 million) approved through fiscal year 2026. No further live-fire tests are planned, as the Mk 41 VLS and Tomahawk systems are already proven. Japan is also acquiring up to 400 Tomahawk missiles (Block IV and Block V) via FMS, with deliveries scheduled through fiscal year 2027.