Photo/Illutration Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, left, and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin meet for bilateral talks at the Pentagon on Oct. 4. (Nobuhiko Tajima)

WASHINGTON--To bolster its defense, Japan will start procuring U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles in 2025, a year earlier than originally planned, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said on Oct. 4.

His announcement was made after he met with his U.S. counterpart, Lloyd Austin, at the Pentagon.

“We will cooperate closely in every step to strengthen the alliance,” said Kihara, who was visiting the United States for the first time following his appointment as defense chief last month.

“We support your government’s bold decisions to invest in advanced capabilities,” Austin told Kihara.

Japan initially planned to buy up to 400 Block V missiles, the latest generation of Tomahawk, in fiscal 2026 and the following year.

However, Tokyo decided to start procuring the weapons a year ahead of schedule by replacing up to half the missile units with an earlier model, Block IV, to prioritize faster deployment.

The Tomahawk missiles will provide Japan with counterstrike capabilities stipulated in the country’s new defense policies adopted in December 2022.

(This article was written by Nobuhiko Tajima and Ryo Kiyomiya.)

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