# Japan develops low-cost cruise missile

> Japan creates affordable missile to overwhelm air defenses.
- Title: Japan develops low-cost cruise missile · Nikkei Asia
- Summary: Japan creates affordable missile to overwhelm air defenses. Japan plans to produce a low-cost cruise missile using civilian components to deplete air…
- Keywords: japan, cruise missile, air defenses, maritime self-defense force, tomahawk, low-cost, news, business, world, develops, cruise, missile
- Source: Nikkei Asia — https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/defense/japan-to-develop-low-cost-cruise-missile-that-overwhelms-air-defenses
- Published: 2026-10-02T15:30:42+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: japan, cruise missile, air defenses, maritime self-defense force, tomahawk, low-cost, news, business, world
## Japan's defense plan
Japan plans to produce a less-expensive long-range cruise missile that can be deployed in large numbers to deplete a target's air defenses.
## Civilian components
Civilian components will be used to significantly reduce production expenses.
## Tomahawk comparison
A Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel fires a Tomahawk missile, which costs over two million dollars per unit.
## Cost reduction
Using civilian parts cuts costs to make the missile affordable for mass deployment.
## Air defense impact
The missile overwhelms air defenses by depleting them through large-scale deployment.
## Key takeaway

Japan plans to produce a low-cost cruise missile using civilian components to deplete air defenses in large numbers.