Japan speeds up deployment of upgraded anti-ship missiles

The decision to deploy the upgraded version of the Type-12 anti-ship missile earlier than planned is due to the increasingly serious security environment surrounding Japan, according to NHK today, November 12.

The Type-12 anti-ship missile is a guided missile produced in Japan. The Japanese Ministry of Defense is upgrading the Type-12 missile to give it a longer range. The Japanese Ministry of Defense hopes the Type-12 missile will enhance the country's counterattack capabilities in operations such as attacking enemy missile launch sites.

Missile systems during an exercise in Japan

Kyodo News screenshot

Initially, the Japanese Defense Ministry planned to deploy the upgraded Type-12 missile in fiscal year 2026, starting in April 2026 and ending in late March 2027.

Japan’s Defense Ministry has yet to decide how soon it will deploy the upgraded version of the Type-12. However, in its draft supplementary budget for the current fiscal year, Japan has earmarked 152.3 billion yen (about $1 billion) to buy upgraded Type-12 missiles and high-speed glide bombs that can be used to defend the country’s remote islands.

Japan also plans to purchase 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the US to enhance its counter-attack capabilities. The Japanese Ministry of Defense plans to deploy 200 of those Tomahawk missiles from fiscal 2025, a year earlier than originally planned, according to NHK.

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