Japanese new anti-ship missile inventory update

With the deployment of a new ground-based version of the Type-12 anti-ship missile set to start in fiscal year 2025, the Japan Self-Defense Forces could begin to make notable enhancements to its maritime strike abilities in key East Asian waters

Following five test launches in October and November 2024, the ground-based variant of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Upgraded Type-12 anti-ship missile, the first of Japan’s new range of indigenously developed stand-off missile capabilities, is slated to be deployed sometime in the upcoming fiscal year (FY25, April 2025–March 2026). The air- and ship-launched variants are planned to enter service later this decade.

According to Japanese media reports, the range of the new missile exceeds 900 kilometres, a significant increase from the 200 km range of the original Type-12 introduced in 2012. In December 2024, Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) published images of the missile and a two-canister, road-mobile transporter-erector launcher (TEL). The TEL had only two rather than the original six canisters, likely to accommodate the larger size of the new missile.

The MoD states that the missile body has a reduced radar cross section. Images of the missile taken during its test flight show a boxy fuselage cross section with folded wings and an X-shaped tail with a rear lower fuselage air intake for the engine. Japan has said the missile is fitted with a datalink, enabling it to provide updated target information during engagement.

One of many

Once deployed, the Upgraded Type-12 system has the potential to significantly enhance the coastal-defence and maritime-attack capabilities of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). However, it is only one of the various stand-off missiles the JSDF is acquiring.

Japan’s 2022 National Security Strategy (NSS) argued that the deteriorating regional security environment required the JSDF to acquire various types of stand-off capabilities to increase deterrence against China, North Korea and Russia. As a result, Tokyo intends to acquire a suite of domestically produced and foreign-sourced missiles deployed across air, land and maritime platforms with anti-ship and/or land-attack roles.

Tokyo’s interest in acquiring stand-off systems predates the publication of the NSS, but as Tokyo perceived its security environment worsening, it decided to acquire additional stand-off missile capabilities and to accelerate the delivery of several systems.