Purchases of up to 500 U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles by fiscal 2027 are being considered by the Defense Ministry, as it seeks to accelerate preparations for the possession of counterattack capabilities, sources said.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida confirmed the plan to advance purchase negotiations during a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden on Nov. 13, according to several U.S. and Japanese government sources.
The Liberal Democratic Party and its junior ruling coalition partner Komeito have basically agreed on Japan possessing counterattack capabilities that could destroy an enemy's missile launch sites and other targets for self-defense purposes.
