Overview
- The U.S. told Japan its roughly 400‑missile Tomahawk order will face delivery disruptions, according to people familiar with the matter.
- Tomahawks are ship‑ or sub‑launched cruise missiles that fly long distances, and U.S. forces have fired hundreds in the Iran conflict, straining stocks.
- Prewar stocks were about 4,000 missiles and 2025 saw about 100 new rounds built and 240 older models upgraded to Block V, with more than two years of such output already used, the reports say.
- Japan’s $2.35 billion deal signed in 2024 targets full delivery by March 2028, and it received an initial shipment in March, according to its defense minister.
- Tokyo has begun fielding homegrown long‑range missiles as a hedge, and U.S. plans to raise output could take years to ease the shortage.