The United States has warned Japan that delivery of the 400 Tomahawk missiles it ordered will face severe delays as the Pentagon diverts production to replenish stockpiles depleted in the Iran campaign. Japan signed a $2.35 bn deal in 2024 to gain a 1,600‑km counterstrike capability against China. This setback could affect regional security calculations.

Pentagon officials told Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi the first batch of 200 missiles, originally due by April 2028, could slip another two years. The delay mirrors similar warnings to European allies over weapons used in Operation Epic Fury, where over 1,000 Tomahawks were fired from an estimated pre‑war stock of 3,100. Analysts warn the lag will strain Japan’s strategic planning.

With U.S. assets shifted to the Middle East, Tokyo may accelerate domestic programmes such as the extended‑range Type 12 and Hyper‑Velocity Gliding Projectile to close the missile gap with China’s long‑range arsenal. Security experts say the postponement erodes the joint U.S.–Japan deterrent and could complicate Washington’s ability to support Taiwan. The delivery schedule now extends into the early 2030s.