Japan to upgrade Aegis destroyer Chokai with Tomahawk missile launch capability.

According to infomation published by Minkei on September 1, 2024, the Japanese Ministry of Defense has decided to enhance the capabilities of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Aegis destroyer Chokai by equipping it with the ability to launch U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles.
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Japanese Kongo-class destroyer JS Chokai. (Picture source: US DoD)

The upgrade of the destroyer Chokai, which will be the first Japanese Aegis destroyer equipped with Tomahawk missiles, reflects Japan's shift towards a more proactive defense posture.

The Tomahawk missiles, which have a range of approximately 1,600 kilometers, will provide Japan with a long-range strike capability. This aligns with Japan's new National Security Strategy, which emphasizes the importance of counterstrike capabilities as a deterrent against potential aggressors.

The integration of both Block IV and Block V Tomahawk variants allows for enhanced navigational and targeting features, providing the destroyers with greater flexibility and precision in potential conflict scenarios.

Japan has committed approximately $1.72 billion for the purchase of up to 400 Tomahawk missiles. The first deployment is set to begin in fiscal year 2025, earlier than initially planned, with the JS Chokai undergoing refurbishment to integrate these capabilities by March 2026. The Japanese government plans to extend this capability to all eight of its Aegis-equipped destroyers by 2027.

The decision to enhance the destroyer Chokai and other Aegis destroyers with Tomahawk missiles is a component of Japan's broader defense modernization efforts.

This includes increasing its defense budget to around $68 billion by 2027, which would position Japan as the world's third-largest military spender, after the United States and China. Additionally, Japan plans to add two more Aegis destroyers by fiscal year 2032.

About the destroyer

The vessel has a standard displacement of 7,500 tons and a full load displacement of 9,500 tons. She measures 528.2 feet (161.0 meters) in length, with a beam of 68.9 feet (21.0 meters) and a draft of 20.3 feet (6.2 meters).

Powered by four Ishikawajima Harima/General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines, the JS Chokai operates on two shafts, producing a combined 100,000 shaft horsepower (75 megawatts). This propulsion system enables the destroyer to achieve speeds of up to 30 knots (56 km/h). The ship has an operational range of 4,500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 20 knots (37 km/h).

The JS Chokai is equipped with a range of advanced sensors and processing systems, including the AN/SPY-1D radar for air and missile defense, the OPS-28 surface search radar, and the OQS-102 bow-mounted sonar for anti-submarine operations. Its electronic warfare capabilities are supported by the NOLQ-2 intercept and jammer system.

The ship's armament is extensive and varied, featuring a 127 mm (5 in)/54 caliber Oto Melara Compact Gun for surface engagements. It carries eight RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles in quad canisters, providing robust anti-surface warfare capability. For close-in defense, the JS Chokai is armed with two 20 mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS). It also has two HOS-302 triple torpedo tubes capable of launching Mark 46 and Type 73 torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare.