Japan Conducts First Tomahawk Live-Fire Aboard JS ChokaiJapan’s Ministry of Defense announced on July 30 that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) had conducted its first live-fire test of a Tomahawk cruise missile aboard the Aegis guided-missile destroyer JS Chokai (DDG-176). Four Months of PreparationThe Ministry of Defense announced in March that Chokai had acquired Tomahawk launch capability. They added that the Chokai test confirmed integration between the Tomahawk system and Japan’s combat system. Although the ships are intended to operate Tomahawk missiles in the future, ministry officials said they are not expected to have Tomahawk launch capability when they enter service. ATLA officials also said Japan has no plans to procure additional Tomahawk missiles beyond the 400 already approved.