Japan MSDF conducts first Tomahawk missile test; China voices displeasure

Published Aug 3, 03:31 PM UTC

On July 29, 2026, Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force conducted its first live-fire Tomahawk cruise missile launch from the destroyer JS Chokai, a Kongo-class Aegis ship modified in the United States in 2025. Tokyo has procured 400 Block IV and Block V Tomahawks since 2024, which have a range over 1,000 miles and a 1,000-pound warhead. The test marks a major shift in Japan's postwar defensive doctrine, as Tokyo now argues that striking enemy missile sites before they launch constitutes legitimate self-defense, citing China's military modernization and North Korea's expanding arsenal. The Mk 41 vertical launchers on the Chokai, previously used for air defense and anti-submarine rockets, can now deliver long-range land attack capabilities. China has expressed displeasure over the development.