The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has announced the first successful test firing of an RGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile from the destroyer JS Chōkai…
This live-fire event marks the completion of the modernization and certification process for the JS Chōkai.
Japan has procured 400 Tomahawk missiles, comprising 200 Block IV and 200 Block V variants, with deliveries scheduled between 2025 and 2027.
The Kongō-class guided-missile destroyer Chōkai is the first Japanese warship configured to launch the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM).
Designed for precision strikes against high-value targets, the subsonic cruise missile features a range of approximately 1,600 kilometers.
The missile utilizes a combination of inertial navigation, terrain contour matching, and satellite guidance to reach its target.
Its low-altitude flight capability reduces the likelihood of radar detection, enhancing survivability in high-threat environments.
The Chōkai has a standard displacement of approximately 7,500 tons, reaching 9,500 tons at full load.
The 161-meter-long, 21-meter-wide destroyer is powered by four Ishikawajima Harima General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines driving two shafts.
The ship’s combat suite is centered on the Aegis Combat System, integrated with the AN/SPY-1D phased-array radar, which enables the simultaneous tracking of multiple airborne and ballistic missile threats at long range.
Electronic warfare capabilities are provided by the NOLQ-2 electronic support and jamming system, which enhances the ship’s survivability against radar-guided threats by disrupting enemy detection and targeting cycles…