Japan destroyer returns home, equipped with Tomahawk missile capability
NAGASAKI (Kyodo9 -- A Japanese Self-Defense Forces destroyer returned Sunday to its home port in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture in southwestern Japan, af
A Japanese Self-Defense Forces destroyer, the Chokai, has returned to its home port in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, after successfully completing a live-fire test of a Tomahawk cruise missile off the coast of the United States. This marks the first time the Maritime Self-Defense Force has demonstrated the ability to strike enemy bases as a self-defense measure, a significant development within the constraints of Japan's pacifist Constitution.
The Chokai was the first vessel of its kind to conduct the Tomahawk missile test in the Pacific Ocean, off the United States, where it had been sent for the necessary modifications to enable the missile launch capability. It is anticipated that all eight Aegis-equipped destroyers of the MSDF will eventually be fitted with Tomahawk missiles, as part of Japan's strategy to bolster its defenses in response to a growing security environment.
The Self-Defense Forces possess other long-range capabilities, including the deployment of Type-25 surface-to-ship guided missiles from a camp in Kumamoto Prefecture and Type-25 hypervelocity gliding projectiles from a site in Shizuoka Prefecture. Additionally, the Self-Defense Forces are receiving deliveries of long-range Joint Strike Missiles for their fighter jets.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
