Tomahawk deliveries to Japan may be delayed up to two years

2026-05-25

The Financial Times reported on the 23rd that U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth told Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in a phone call this month that delivery of the U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles Japan plans to acquire was likely to be significantly delayed.

Stockpiles depleted by Iran operation

The delay stems from a sharp decline in stockpiles during military operations against Iran, and deliveries to Japan could be delayed by as much as two years, the paper said. The United States has also notified several European allies, including Britain and Poland, of delays in deliveries of ordered weapons systems, it reported.

Possible impact on Japan's counterstrike capability

Japan signed a contract with the United States in January 2024 to acquire up to 400 Tomahawk missiles in fiscal 2025 to 2027. In March this year, the Defense Ministry announced that the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Aegis destroyer Chokai had completed modifications and gained the ability to launch Tomahawks. Japan plans to use them as a counterstrike capability to destroy missile bases and other targets in other countries, with China and others in mind, and any delay in deliveries would affect its defense strategy.

U.S. military usage also rises

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the United States used more than 1,000 of the 3,100 Tomahawks it is believed to have in fighting with Iran. Tomahawks can be launched from surface ships and submarines and have a range of about 1,600 kilometers. Because production is limited, some in the Pentagon are voicing concern about shortages in stockpiles.

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