Japan Faces Tomahawk Delivery Delay After US Iran Campaign

The United States has alerted Japan to a significant delay in the delivery of Tomahawk cruise missiles that Tokyo ordered to bolster its defenses against China's growing military power. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi earlier this month that the Pentagon needed to prioritize replenishing its own stockpile after a major military operation against Iran, according to sources cited by the Financial Times.

Japan ordered 400 Tomahawk missiles worth $2.35bn in 2024. Deliveries were due in two batches by April 2028, but Washington has warned the delay could stretch to two years.

The missiles, which have a range of around 1,600 km, are a central element of Japan's new "counterstrike" strategy to deter potential Chinese aggression in the region.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the US fired more than 1,000 Tomahawk missiles during its five-week campaign against Iran, roughly a third of its total stockpile. Production of new missiles takes years. The delay is already causing concern among US allies in the Indo-Pacific and Europe, with Washington also warning Britain and Poland in recent weeks that several arms contracts will be delayed.

The Pentagon declined to comment. Japan's embassy in the US said the two allies hold frequent talks but declined to comment on the specific issues discussed.

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