Japan to purchase missiles from the US

Japan has signed an agreement with the US to purchase 400 Tomahawk missiles and related equipment.

Japanese Defense Minister Kihara Minoru and US Ambassador to Tokyo Rahm Israel Emanuel met in the capital, Tokyo.

During the meeting, Minister Kihara and Ambassador Emanuel signed an agreement for the purchase of 400 land-based Tomahawk cruise missiles from the US.

Under the agreement, Japan will pay a total of 254 billion yen (1.7 billion dollars) for the 400 Tomahawk missiles and related equipment.

According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense, the payment will be made over a 3-year period starting from April 2025.

Minister Kihara stated during the meeting that Japan has accelerated the process of procuring Tomahawks from the US due to an "increasingly serious security environment."

US Ambassador Emanuel announced that his country will begin providing training to the Japan Self-Defense Forces on the use of Tomahawk missiles starting in March.