Post: Japan wants to buy Tomahawk missiles to avoid interference

Launch of a Tomahawk missile from a Mark 41 launcher File photo

Kishida: Tomahawk missiles that Japan wants to buy from the US will be able to prevent interference

TOKYO, February 15 – RIA Novosti. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a parliamentary session that the Tomahawk missiles that Japan plans to buy from the United States could survive interference.

The Tomahawks that our country will buy are the last model whose flight is not blocked. We intend to acquire these based on the evaluation of[these capabilities],” he said.

On Tuesday, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada announced authorities’ plans to sign a contract with the United States for the bulk purchase of Tomahawk cruise missiles. The missile will be procured through the “foreign military aid” system, which is often used to procure US-made defense equipment. Officials hope the contract will be signed in fiscal 2023, which begins on April 1.

During a meeting with US President Joe Biden in January, Fumio Kishida conveyed Tokyo’s intention to acquire American Tomahawk cruise missiles. It is assumed that the Tomahawk missiles should be part of a program to increase the ability of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to respond to enemy bases. Prior to this, information appeared in the Japanese media that Japan intends to purchase up to 500 of these missiles from the United States by 2027.

In mid-December, Japan adopted three key documents on defense and security: the “National Security Strategy”, which defines the main directions of foreign policy in the field of defense; “National Defense Strategy”, which expresses the aims and means of defense; “Defense Plan” – determines the overall cost of defense and the scope of weapons. It was in the documents that Japan would agree to equip the Tomahawk missile by fiscal year 2026.

The documents also show that Japan’s defense spending will rise to 2% of GDP by 2027. That’s about 11 trillion yen ($81 billion). Military spending in the current fiscal year 2022 (ending March 31, 2023) has reached 5.4 trillion yen ($40 billion), about 1.24% of GDP.

Source: Ria

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