Japan tests new surface-to-ship missile

Japan’s Ministry of Defense has unveiled photos from the test launch of the improved Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile (SSM), a system currently under development to enhance Japan’s standoff defense capabilities.

The upgraded missile is part of a broader effort to modernize Japan’s self-defense measures amid evolving regional security challenges.

The original Type 12 SSM had a range of approximately 200 kilometers. The upgraded version aims to extend its range to at least 900 kilometers, with a goal of reaching 1,200 kilometers in future iterations.

The missile’s design has also been refined to include a reduced radar cross section (RCS), enhancing its stealth capabilities. Additionally, the system integrates Up to Date Command (UDTC) functionality, enabling the missile to receive real-time target updates via satellite communications and engage moving targets with increased precision.

Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) described the test as a key step in achieving early deployment of enhanced standoff defense capabilities. “We conducted the launch test of the improved Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile, both for ground-based and ship-based variants, to develop standoff defense capabilities that can intercept and eliminate invading forces at an early stage and from a significant distance,” ATLA stated.

Observers have noted that the launcher system used during the test bears a resemblance to a system previously identified as a prototype for hypersonic weapons. This earlier identification may have been erroneous, as the system’s capabilities align more closely with the improved Type 12 SSM configuration.