Kawasaki unveils a Japanese missile with a range of up to 2,500 km as an alternative to the Tomahawk

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Kawasaki unveils Japanese missile with a range of up to 2,500 km as an alternative to the Tomahawk
Kawasaki unveils Japanese missile with a range of up to 2,500 km as an alternative to the Tomahawk (X @Defence_IDA)

Kawasaki Heavy Industries presented, at a technology symposium in Japan, advances in the development of a cruise missile prototype that has already been dubbed by the press the “Japanese Tomahawk.”

The project, published on the website of the Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA), focuses on testing critical technologies for a future long-range national weapon.

The proposal is to create a versatile platform capable of employing different types of warheads against naval and ground targets, while also integrating electronic warfare systems, countermeasures, reconnaissance capabilities, and specific configurations for attacking fortified structures such as bunkers and command centers. The idea is for the missile to serve as a technological foundation for a weapon that fulfills multiple roles on the modern battlefield.

The system will be powered by the KJ-301 turbofan engine, unveiled by Kawasaki in late 2024, capable of ensuring high subsonic speed and an estimated range between 1,500 and 2,500 km—twice that of the 12SSM-ER currently in service.

Another highlight is the development of integrated software for anti-missile maneuvers, designed to increase the weapon’s survivability against close-in naval defense systems such as the Phalanx and the AK-630.

Although the prototype is not intended for direct adoption by the Japan Self-Defense Forces, it will serve as a technology demonstrator for a new national cruise missile, whose development began in late 2024 and is expected to be completed between 2030 and 2033.

In the future, the weapon is expected to operate alongside the 12SSM-ERs used by ground forces, ships, submarines, and aircraft, expanding Japan’s long-range strike capability and reducing reliance on foreign systems such as the Tomahawk.

Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @Defence_IDA | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team

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