US Delays 400 Tomahawks for Japan by Up to 2 Years as Iran War Drains Stocks
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · May 23
US Delays 400 Tomahawks for Japan by Up to 2 Years as Iran War Drains Stocks
4 articles · Updated · Financial Times · May 23
Up to 2 years of delay could hit Japan’s planned delivery of 400 Tomahawk missiles after the Pentagon warned Tokyo it must rebuild stocks depleted in the Iran campaign.
More than 1,000 Tomahawks were fired during five weeks of operations against Iran from a prewar inventory estimated at 3,100, while replacement timelines can stretch to about four years.
The $2.35 billion purchase is central to Japan’s new counterstrike capability, with the 1,600km-range missiles meant to help deter China and narrow a missile gap against Beijing’s 2,000-plus long-range arsenal.
The setback also deepens Indo-Pacific concern that US weapons are being diverted from Asia to the Middle East, raising doubts about Washington’s ability to support Taiwan in a China conflict.
Japanese analysts say the delay will complicate this year’s security strategy review and likely push Tokyo to speed domestic missile programs such as the extended-range Type 12 and Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile.
With US missiles delayed, can Japan's homegrown weapons deter China's massive arsenal in time?
Is America's defense industry too strained to uphold its security promises to allies in Asia?
Tomahawk Missile Shortages: How U.S. Stockpile Depletion Is Forcing Japan to Rethink Its Defense Strategy
Overview
The United States has announced delays in delivering Tomahawk missiles to Japan, mainly due to a significant depletion of its own stockpile after firing over 1,000 Tomahawks in recent conflicts. This heavy usage, representing about 30 percent of the U.S. inventory, has created capacity issues that now affect commitments to allies like Japan. As a result, Japan faces an immediate setback in its defense planning and must reconsider its strategic capabilities. The situation highlights how U.S. operational demands can impact allied security, prompting Japan to explore ways to strengthen its own defense self-sufficiency.