Japan: the Chokai destroyer returns with Tomahawk missiles, breakthrough in defense

The Japanese destroyer Chokai returned to the port of Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture today after successfully conducting the first experimental launch of a Tomahawk missile off the US coast.

The ship is now operational with the ability to strike targets in enemy territory, a capability that Tokyo claims as legitimate self-defense and which according to analysts represents a clear break with the traditional interpretation of constitutional pacifism. In this direction, the Ministry of Defense has announced that all eight Aegis destroyers in the fleet will be progressively updated with the same cruise missiles.

At the same time, the Self-Defense Forces are already receiving the first Type-25 launchers for surface-to-surface missiles and hypersonic projectiles from bases in Kumamoto and Shizuoka, as well as Joint Strike missiles for the air force's fighters. The strengthening, according to the ministry, is part of a broader military strengthening strategy, motivated by a regional security context defined as 'increasingly severe', in particular due to tensions with China, North Korea and Russia. Although the executive refers to Article 9 of the Constitution, observers note, the new posture marks a departure from the purely defensive doctrine for the first time since 1945, and represents a concrete stage in the turning point made by the new government led by Sanae Takaichi towards the rearmament of the country.

The conservative executive approved a record defense budget of just over 9,000 billion yen for the 2026 fiscal year, about 58 billion dollars, up 3.8% and for the twelfth consecutive year. Under pressure from Washington for a greater military commitment, the prime minister has committed to reaching the objective of 2% of GDP by March, two years ahead of the original plans.