05 October 2023

Japan accelerates stand-off missile programmes amid tense security environment

by Ridzwan Rahmat

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry is seen here launching a Tomahawk cruise missile. Japan is seeking to accelerate its acquisition of this capability. (US Navy)

Japan is accelerating efforts to procure selected stand-off weapons, including the US-supplied Tomahawk cruise missile, amid deteriorating security conditions in the region.

The matter was announced by the Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) on 5 October.

“The Ministry of Defense and the [Japan] Self-Defense Forces will strengthen their stand-off defence capabilities in order to deter and eliminate the invasion force into Japan at an early and distant stage,” reads the announcement.

“In light of the more severe security environment, Minister of Defense Kihara instructed us to further accelerate the construction of stand-off defence capabilities,” it added, in reference to Minoru Kihara, who assumed the post on 13 September amid a cabinet reshuffle.

As part of the effort, the Japanese MoD is now considering to acquire domestically produced stand-off missiles at an earlier date, the ministry said.

No details on these were provided in the announcement but a homegrown weapon that Japan has been working on is the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI)-developed upgraded Type 12 surface-to-surface missile (SSM).

In March 2023 Japan's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) told Janes that the ship-launched variant of the upgraded Type 12 missile would be inducted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) by 2026.

The upgraded Type 12 SSM will feature a significantly enhanced maximum striking range of 1,000 km, up from 200 km previously. The weapon will also be equipped with an up-to-date command (UTDC) link that allows the missile to receive in-flight updates on the target.

Japan is accelerating efforts to procure selected stand-off weapons, including the US-supplied Tomah...

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