Tokyo advances counterstrike strategy with Tomahawk-equipped warship

A Japanese destroyer has been upgraded to launch U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles, marking a significant step in Tokyo’s effort to strengthen its long-range strike capabilities amid a deteriorating regional security environment.

The JS Chokai, an Aegis-equipped vessel operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force, completed its refit at a U.S. naval base in San Diego. The upgrade enables the destroyer to deploy Tomahawk cruise missile systems, enhancing Japan’s ability to conduct counterstrike operations, as per Japanese media.

The milestone comes as Japan seeks to bolster its defence posture in response to ongoing military expansion by China and North Korea. The acquisition of such capabilities aligns with Tokyo’s broader strategy to reinforce deterrence and readiness under increasingly complex security conditions.

According to the Maritime Self-Defence Force, the Chokai is scheduled to carry out a live-fire test of the Tomahawk missile off the coast of San Diego by August, further validating the system’s operational integration.

The completion of the refit was marked by a ceremony at the U.S. naval facility, attended by senior military officials from both countries. Vice Admiral Yoshihiro Goka, commander of the MSDF’s fleet escort unit, described the new missile capability as “extremely important for enhancing the overall deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance.”

Also present was Vice Admiral John Wade, head of the United States Third Fleet.

The upgrade provides Japan with the ability to strike enemy missile bases as a form of self-defense. This so-called counterstrike capability was formally endorsed in Japan’s revised national security strategy adopted in 2022.

Speaking in Tokyo, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi emphasized the defensive nature of the development. He told reporters that the destroyer’s enhanced capability is “highly significant in reducing the likelihood of armed attacks against Japan.”

Koizumi stressed that Japan’s counterstrike capabilities “remain the minimum necessary for self-defense and will only be used in the event of an armed attack from another country, and they do not pose a threat to other nations.”

The Chokai, which is homeported at an MSDF base in Sasebo, was sent to the United States last year for the refit. It is expected to return to Japan around September following the completion of testing and final preparations.

By Tamilla Hasanova