The Pentagon has warned Japan to expect significant delays in the delivery of 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles as the U.S. military prioritizes replenishing stockpiles severely depleted during Operation Epic Fury against Iran.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered the news to Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi earlier this month, the Financial Times reported Sunday, citing sources.

$2.35B Deal Under Pressure

Japan ordered Tomahawk missiles in 2024, its first such purchase, under a $2.35 billion agreement aimed at developing counterstrike capabilities against China. Two batches of 200 missiles each were expected by April 2028. Washington has now warned that delays could extend the timeline by an additional two years.

The Tomahawk is a long-range, precision-guided cruise missile launched from surface ships or submarines and capable of flying at low altitudes to evade radar. It has a range of 1,600 kilometers, giving Japan the ability to strike targets along China's coast.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates the U.S. fired over 1,000 Tomahawks during five weeks of Iran operations, out of a prewar inventory of roughly 3,100.

According to CSIS, Tomahawk deliveries to the U.S. military take roughly four years from the time Congress provides funding. RTX Corp. (RTX) signed Pentagon agreements in February to boost annual Tomahawk production to over 1,000 units.

The Financial Times reported that experts Tatsumi and Minemura said the delays would force Japan to accelerate the development and mass production of domestic missiles, including the extended-range Type 12 and the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile.