Japan wants 12 destroyers with upgraded Aegis system that can launch Tomahawk and shoot down Chinese ballistic missiles
Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force intends to increase the number of destroyers equipped with the Aegis missile defense system.
What is known
Currently, Japan only has eight Aegis ships. In the near future, the country’s Naval Self-Defense Forces will receive two more squadron destroyers, and by the end of the current decade, the total number of destroyers will increase to 12 units.
Japan is building up its defense potential in connection with possible aggression from North Korea and China. For the same reason, Tokyo will spend about $2.5 billion on the acquisition and integration of Tomahawk cruise missiles with a launch range of more than 1,600 km.
Aegis is an air defense system that uses the Standard Missile (SM) and can shoot down enemy ballistic missiles with a launch range of more than 5,000 km. However, Japan wants to modify the Aegis to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles. More than $800 million will be allocated for this purpose.
At most, Japan wants to arm the destroyers with a new version of the domestic Type 12 missile. After modernization, it will have a launch range of 1,200 km. Also, the budget for the 2023 fiscal year includes $100 million for the purchase of SM-6 missiles.
