Caution: Japanese Warships Gain Long-Range Strike Capability
According to a March 27 report by Japan's Asahi Shimbun: The Japanese Ministry of Defense announced on the 27th that the JMSDF's Aegis-equipped destroyer "Chihaya" has now acquired the capability to launch U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles.
After completing live-fire tests in the United States, the Chihaya is scheduled to return to its base at Sasebo (Nagasaki Prefecture) in mid-September and enter active service, becoming the first ship in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force capable of launching Tomahawk missiles.
Japanese media stated: "The Tomahawk missile can, in emergency situations, attack enemy military bases and target enemy missile launch sites."
The Chihaya has been stationed in the United States since last year for maintenance and crew training.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense announced that delivery of Tomahawk missiles will begin on the 13th, with plans to purchase up to 400 missiles in total and install them on all eight of the JMSDF's Aegis-equipped destroyers.
The Tomahawk missile has a range of approximately 1,600 kilometers or more, enabling extensive strikes against targets in North Korea, China, and Russia.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860778309689355/
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