Details of the upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missile were revealed in the Japanese Ministry of Defense ’s annual white paper released earlier this month, which said the upgraded missile had “undergone multiple field tests” and would be ready for deployment next year, 12 months earlier than expected.
The ministry revealed that Japan's hypersonic weapons will also be ready for delivery in 2026, three years after mass production begins, as the country aims to boost its hypersonic missile and defense capabilities.
Type-12 surface-to-ship missile (right) and Type-3 medium-range surface-to-air missile. Photo: Kyodo
Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said in the white paper that the country is facing a "severe and complex security environment", listing China's rapid military buildup and increased naval activities as key challenges.
He also pledged to prioritize the development of Japan's long-range missile capabilities. "Japan will acquire a variety of long-range missiles earlier than originally planned, including Tomahawk missiles and a ground-launched version of the upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missile," Kihara said.
The white paper includes photos of a prototype of the upgraded missile, which features a low, easy-to-see nose and rearward-folding wings. Although it resembles the US-made AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), the Japanese weapon retains the original’s X-shaped tail fins and underbody air intakes.
Extended wings and high-altitude jet engines suggest the upgraded Type-12 will have significantly longer range.
The white paper did not reveal the new missile's range, but Japanese media previously reported that the missile could hit targets as far as 900 km away, and the goal is to extend this range to 1,200 km to 1,500 km.
According to Japan's Defense Ministry, a Type-12 unit equipped with the original version of the missile has been deployed to Ishigaki, one of Japan's southern islands.
The Japanese military has placed a $2.35 billion order for 400 US-made Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles with a range of 1,600 km. The delivery of the Tomahawk missiles has also been accelerated by a year to 2025.
This means Japan's combat capabilities will be significantly enhanced next year when both the Type-12 missile and the US-made Tomahawk missile are added to the arsenal.
According to the white paper, in addition to the upgraded ground-launched version that is likely to be introduced next year, Japan will also continue to develop ship-launched and air-launched variants of the Type-12 and plans to deploy at least 11 units of this missile.
Japan has also been researching hypersonic glide projectiles (HVGPs) and hypersonic missiles since 2018, as part of efforts to enhance "the ability to disrupt and defeat strike forces at long ranges, thereby preventing attacks on Japan".
Ngoc Anh (according to SCMP)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ten-lua-sat-thu-tau-chien-cua-nhat-ban-sap-duoc-trien-deployed-post305366.html
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