A test launch of Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ “New SSM” anti-ship missile is scheduled for the 2027 fiscal year, as announced at the International Aerospace Exhibition in Tokyo on October 17, 2024. This cruise missile is engineered for long-range attacks from outside enemy defense perimeters. It is powered by a small, efficient turbofan engine and has wings for sustained horizontal flight, similar to an aircraft. Its resemblance in range and design to the U.S. Tomahawk has led to the nickname “Japanese Tomahawk.”
