Japan to field new missile systems earlier than planned
Japan’s Ministry of Defense announced that deployment of the upgraded Type 12 surface-to-ship missile will be accelerated, with the first ground-based units to be stationed in Kumamoto before the end of this fiscal year.
The Ministry said on August 29 that both ship- and aircraft-launched variants of the improved Type 12 will now enter service in fiscal year 2027, one year earlier than originally planned. The system is designed to extend Japan’s strike reach, with the upgraded missile expected to achieve a range of around 1,000 kilometers compared to the current few hundred kilometers.
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani emphasized the deterrent value of the program. “It will be possible to reduce the possibility of an armed attack against Japan,” he told reporters during the announcement.
The long version of the ground-based Type 12 variant has nearly completed development, while testing for shipborne and air-launched models is being accelerated. The Ministry said the missile will be fitted onto the destroyer Teruzuki and the upgraded F-2 fighter jets stationed at Hyakuri Air Base in Ibaraki Prefecture.
According to the plan, the first deployment will be at the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Kengun Garrison in Kumamoto City, followed by expansion to the GSDF Fuji Garrison in Shizuoka Prefecture in fiscal year 2027.
The government is also moving forward with other long-range systems. Development of a new high-speed glide bomb intended for remote island defense will be brought forward by one year, with deployment now scheduled for fiscal year 2025 at Fuji Garrison. Specialized units to operate the glide bombs will be created at Kamifurano Garrison in Hokkaido and Ebino Garrison in Miyazaki Prefecture in fiscal year 2026.
The introduction of stand-off missiles reflects a shift in Japan’s security posture. For decades, Tokyo relied almost exclusively on defensive systems. Now, under growing threats from China, Russia and North Korea, the government is investing heavily in weapons that allow it to strike launch sites and bases threatening the country.
