Page 8 - DSEi JAPAN 2023 | DAILY NEWS

JAPAN TO

MAKE LARGE

TOMAHAWK

CRUISE

MISSILE BUY

Japan’s Ministry of Defence (Japan MOD)
is looking to make a large purchase of
Tomahawk cruise missiles. Japan’s Minister
of Defence, Yasukazu Hamada, announced
JAPAN EYEING late in February that the planned acquisition
Tomahawks was a matter of great interest
and would be announced by the United
INDIGENOUS States in the future.

He said that a maximum of 400 cruise mis-
SEEKER FOR MBDA siles would be acquired. The Japan MOD is
currently coordinating with the U.S. side on
the procurement. Japan has not officially
METEOR BVRAAM released information about the number of
Tomahawk cruise missiles presently in its
inventory.

A UK-Japan government-to-government several times greater than current air-to The Tomahawk cruise missile is a precision
cooperation programme with Mitsubishi air missiles. The Meteor’s network-en- weapon launched from ships and sub-
Electric Company (MELCO) for the Joint abled capability and effective operation marines that can strike targets precisely
New Air-to-Air Missile (JNAAM) could in all environments will enhance air from 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away, even
result in the integration of a MELCO superiority and total destruction of a in heavily defended airspace. The Block IV
Active Electronically Steered Array combat air threat. Tactical Tomahawk (also called TACTOM)
(AESA) seeker onto MBDA’s Meteor is the current version. It has a data link that
long-range beyond visual range air-to-air MBDA is also eyeing opportunities as allows it to switch targets while in flight and
missile (BVRAAM). An MBDA spokes- part of the tri-nation Global Combat can loiter for hours before changing course
person confirmed to Daily News that Aircraft Programme (GCAP). MBDA instantly on command.
MBDA is exploring the feasibility of is present at the DSEI Japan GCAP
stand, demonstrating its work with the
integrating a MELCO AESA seeker onto multi-national GCAP team that ensures Beginning in 2020, the U.S. Navy began
the Meteor missile. “MBDA’s aspiration the next generation platform can seam- recertifying and modernizing its Tomahawk
is to work with Japanese industry to lessly integrate the next generation of missiles, extending their service life by 15
co-develop effectors of the future for effectors. “MBDA’s aspirations are wider years. Some of the newer Block V series
platforms that service the needs of than GCAP and its effectors; we endeav- Tomahawks are being upgraded with a
Europe, Japan and the wider export our to be Japan’s industrial partner of maritime strike capability and others, with
market,” the spokesperson added. choice in the effector domain across a joint, multiple-effects warhead. Raytheon
all land, sea and air platforms servic- Missiles & Defence is also adding naviga-
MBDA is currently working with BAE ing the needs of Japan’s Self Defense tion and communication upgrades to all
Systems and Lockheed Martin to inte- Forces,” the spokesperson said. MBDA Block V variants.
grate the Meteor missile onto the F-35. is a key industrial partner on the GCAP.
As an operator of the F-35, Japan would “We are working with the multi-national According to Raytheon Missiles & Defence,
be able to select Meteor for Japan Air industrial GCAP team to ensure that the U.S. and allied militaries have flight-tested
Self Defence Force (JASDF) aircraft next-generation platform can seam- the GPS-enabled Tomahawk 550 times and
once integrated. MBDA’s Meteor has lessly integrate the next-generation of used it in combat more than 2,300 times.
revolutionised air-to-air combat in the effectors that have been co-developed Amongst its most recent uses was in 2018,
21st century with the largest No Escape by MBDA and Japanese industry,” the when U.S. Navy warships and submarines
Zone of any air-to-air missile system, spokesperson added. launched 66 Tomahawk missiles at Syrian
chemical weapon facilities.
8 MARCH-15-2023 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS