Japan’s Tomahawk Acquisition: A Signal of Military Preparedness?

Japan Plans to Purchase 500 Tomahawk Missiles
Tomahawk, A Signal for U.S. War Initiation
Doubts Over Japan’s Preemptive Strike Capability

Japan and Poland are among the countries most significantly strengthening their armament under U.S. support. At the heart of this lies missile power, which defends against enemy missile attacks from afar and strikes the attack points to such an extent that the next attack becomes impossible. This ‘counterattack capability’ is the core of missile power.

As part of this missile power enhancement, Japan plans to sign a contract to purchase 500 Tomahawk cruise missiles, BMG-109, from the U.S. in the fiscal year of 2023. Let’s look at what kind of weapon this missile is and the doubts arising about Japan’s acquisition of preemptive strike capability.

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Starting Point of U.S. Long-Distance War
Signal of War Initiation

The Tomahawk, developed by the U.S. as a countermeasure to the reduction of its high-cost long-range attack capabilities, including nuclear weapons, during and after the Cold War, boasts a range of 1,250km to 2,500km (776 to 1,553 miles). It even has the versatility of launching from a ship through a vertical launch system (VLS) or a submarine torpedo tube, even carrying a 200kt W80 nuclear warhead.

The Tomahawk often serves as a signal for the U.S. to start a full-scale war against a specific force or country. After destroying the enemy’s air defense network and key facilities with long-range missiles, the U.S. deployed stealth bombers and strategic bombers to completely annihilate the remaining facilities and command center, which has been the war process demonstrated by the U.S. since the Gulf War.

‘Signal of Preemptive Strike’ Suspicions
Just a Means of Defense?

Japan’s introduction of 500 Tomahawk missiles has once again raised suspicions that it is a starting point for acquiring a preemptive strike capability. Japan plans to invest 211.3 billion yen (about US$1.5 billion). This is to operate this project from its own Aegis ships and submarines. This significant enhancement of long-range strike capabilities has become a catalyst to provoke neighboring countries, especially China and North Korea.

Japan claims this is a means to protect its own country. However, in reality, the ability to detect an enemy’s attack, intercept it, and strike the launch site is, in fact, a preemptive strike capability rather than the retaliatory ability Japan is talking about. Japan cannot avoid the criticism asking the difference between the two capabilities. Japan’s obsessive fear and anxiety over North Korea’s missile provocations seem to have influenced its decision to arm itself this way.

Rearmament with U.S. Support

Japan’s military enhancement would have been virtually impossible without the support of its ally, the United States. Both the Tomahawk missiles that Japan has bolstered and the recently purchased F-35B are all American-made weapons. Thus, the U.S. has gained a vital outpost in East Asia with a reliable ally through Japan’s armament.