Key facts
- Japan plans to develop a less-expensive, long-range cruise missile.
- The missile will use civilian components to reduce production costs.
- The goal is to deploy the missile in large numbers to overwhelm air defenses.
- A Tomahawk missile costs over $2 million per unit.
Japan is planning to develop a new, long-range cruise missile that is designed to be significantly less expensive than current models and capable of being deployed in large numbers. The primary objective of this new missile is to overwhelm and deplete an adversary's air defense systems through sheer volume. To achieve a lower production cost, the missile will incorporate civilian components. This initiative comes as Japan seeks to bolster its defense capabilities in response to regional security challenges. For comparison, the U.S. Tomahawk missile, a widely used long-range cruise missile, costs over $2 million per unit.