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Yomiuri Shimbun
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
GSDF Tests Surface-to-Ship Missile in Japan for 1st Time, Responding to Tense Security Environment
SAPPORO — The Ground Self-Defense Force test-fired a surface-to-ship missile at its range in Hokkaido on Tuesday, the first drill of its kind conducted in Japan. A Type 88 test missile was fired at the Shizunai anti-aircraft range toward a target boat set about 40 kilometers off the coast. The missile was fired as part of a training period at the range that runs through Sunday, and another missile is scheduled to be fired before it is over. While the missiles have been tested in the United States and Australia, the GSDF found it needed to do so in Japan to improve precision, given the increasingly severe security environment facing the country.
Asahi Shimbun
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Japan holds first missile drill to backdrop of China tensions
SHINHIDAKA, Hokkaido—Japan conducted its first domestic drill of a long-range missile on June 24, a move that underscores Tokyo's growing focus on maritime defense in response to China's expanding military presence. The Ground Self-Defense Force launched a nonexplosive Type 88 surface-to-ship missile from a test range here on the southern coast of Hokkaido. This marks the first time that a missile with a capability exceeding a 100-kilometer range has been fired within Japan's borders. With a loud explosion and contrails of white smoke, the training round soared over the Pacific at around 12:30 p.m., heading toward a target located within a 40-km range southwest of the launch site. The exercise involved double the number typically sent to previous overseas drills in the United States with around 300 personnel. Local officials and members of the fisheries sector were notified of the test in advance. Another missile launch is scheduled by June 29, pending data analysis from this test. Until now, Japan's surface-to-ship missile training has been conducted at U.S. military facilities due to space constraints and safety concerns. However, restricted access for troops, limited time frames and types of tests, as well as a weaker yen driving up logistical costs, have prompted officials to seek domestic alternatives. The exercise is part of Japan's 'southwest shift' policy aimed at bolstering its defense capacity—particularly with surface-to-ship missiles—amid Beijing's encroaching maritime activities in the region. Tokyo is also considering establishing an additional missile test range on Minami-Torishima, a remote Pacific island that marks Japan's easternmost territory. The Type 88 missile was introduced in 1988 during the Cold War era to counter Soviet naval threats and is now viewed as a key asset in the event of a Taiwan contingency, according to Nozomu Yoshitomi, a former senior GSDF official and professor at Nihon University specializing in national security. 'This week's drill may be a precursor to future live-fire exercises at the same location, involving the longer-range Type 12 surface-to-ship missile,' Yoshitomi said. Japan is developing upgraded versions of the Type 12 missile that will boast a range of 1,000 km. Starting next March, they are expected to be deployed across seven missile regiments that stretch from Hokkaido to Okinawa Prefecture to form a nationwide network with long-range striking capabilities. (This article was written by Kenichiro Hatanaka and Daisuke Yajima.)
Japan Today
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Japan conducts its first missile test on its own territory
Japan's army test-fires a Type 88 surface-to-ship short-range missile at the Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range on Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido in its first missile test on Japanese territory on Tuesday. By Mari Yamaguchi Japan's army announced Tuesday that it conducted a missile test for the first time on Japanese territory, as the country accelerates its military buildup to deter increasingly assertive China. The test-firing of the Type 88 surface-to-ship, short-range missile was conducted Tuesday at the Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido. About 300 soldiers participated in Tuesday's exercise by the Ground Self-Defense Force's 1st Artillery Brigade, using a training missile targeting an unmanned boat about 40 kilometers (24 miles) off the southern coast of Hokkaido, officials said. Officials were still examining the results of the test, the GSDF said. Due to space limitations and safety concerns, Japan has previously conducted missile tests in the territories of the United States, a treaty ally, and Australia, a top Japanese defense partner where vast training grounds are available. Tuesday's first domestic missile test underscores Japan's push toward a more self-sufficient military and its acquisition of strike-back capabilities as a deterrence to China's increasingly assertive naval activity in regional seas. Japan is also concerned about growing joint military exercises around Japanese coasts between China and Russia. Japan and Russia, a northern neighbor to Hokkaido, have territorial disputes. Japan, under its pacifist Constitution, used to limit the use of force for self-defense only, but has taken a major break from that policy in 2022 when it adopted the ongoing five-year security strategy that names China as the biggest strategic challenge and calls for a closer Japan-U.S. alliance. Japan is currently working to deploy long-range cruise missiles, including Tomahawks purchased from the U.S., beginning later this year. Japan is also developing Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles with a range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), 10 times that of a Type 88. The truck-mounted Type 88 guided missile, developed by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, have a range of about 100 kilometers. Japan is also preparing to build a missile-firing range on uninhabited Minamitorishima, the country's easternmost island in the western Pacific, an area where two Chinese aircraft carriers were seen operating together for the first time earlier this month. © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
ABC News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Japan launches first missile test on home soil as it looks to bolster defence capabilities to deter China
Japan has launched its first missile test on home soil as the country looks to accelerate its military build up to deter China. Japan's army confirmed the test-firing of the Type 88 surface-to-ship, short-range missile on Tuesday at the Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range on Japan's northern-most main island of Hokkaido. About 300 soldiers participated in Tuesday's exercise by the Ground Self-Defense Force's (GSDF) 1st Artillery Brigade, using a training missile targeting an unmanned boat about 40 off the island's southern coast. Officials were still examining the results of the test, the GSDF said. Due to space limitations and safety concerns, Japan has previously conducted missile tests in countries where vast training grounds are available, including in Australia and the United States. The first domestic missile test underscores Japan's push toward a more self-sufficient military and its acquisition of strike-back capabilities as a deterrence to China's increasingly assertive naval activity in regional seas. Japan is also concerned about growing joint military exercises around Japanese coasts between China and Russia. Japan and Russia, a northern neighbour to Hokkaido, have territorial disputes. Japan, under its pacifist Constitution, used to limit the use of force for self-defence only, but has taken a major break from that policy in 2022 when it adopted the ongoing five-year security strategy that names China as the biggest strategic challenge and calls for a closer Japan-US alliance. Japan is currently working to deploy long-range cruise missiles, including Tomahawks purchased from the US, beginning later this year. Japan is also developing Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles with a range of about 1,000 kilometres, 10 times that of a Type 88. The truck-mounted Type 88 guided missile, developed by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, have a range of about 100 kilometres. Japan is also preparing to build a missile-firing range on uninhabited Minamitorishima, the country's eastern-most island in the western Pacific, an area where two Chinese aircraft carriers were seen operating together for the first time earlier this month. AP/ABC
24-06-2025
- Politics
Japan conducts its first missile test on its own territory
TOKYO -- Japan's army announced Tuesday that it conducted a missile test for the first time on Japanese territory, as the country accelerates its military buildup to deter increasingly assertive China. The test-firing of the Type 88 surface-to-ship, short-range missile was conducted Tuesday at the Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido. About 300 soldiers participated in Tuesday's exercise by the Ground Self-Defense Force's 1st Artillery Brigade, using a training missile targeting an unmanned boat about 40 kilometers (24 miles) off the southern coast of Hokkaido, officials said. Officials were still examining the results of the test, the GSDF said. Due to space limitations and safety concerns, Japan has previously conducted missile tests in the territories of the United States, a treaty ally, and Australia, a top Japanese defense partner where vast training grounds are available. Tuesday's first domestic missile test underscores Japan's push toward a more self-sufficient military and its acquisition of strike-back capabilities as a deterrence to China's increasingly assertive naval activity in regional seas. Japan is also concerned about growing joint military exercises around Japanese coasts between China and Russia. Japan and Russia, a northern neighbor to Hokkaido, have territorial disputes. Japan, under its pacifist Constitution, used to limit the use of force for self-defense only, but has taken a major break from that policy in 2022 when it adopted the ongoing five-year security strategy that names China as the biggest strategic challenge and calls for a closer Japan-U.S. alliance. Japan is currently working to deploy long-range cruise missiles, including Tomahawks purchased from the U.S., beginning later this year. Japan is also developing Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles with a range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), 10 times that of a Type 88. The truck-mounted Type 88 guided missile, developed by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, have a range of about 100 kilometers (62 miles). Japan is also preparing to build a missile-firing range on uninhabited Minamitorishima, the country's easternmost island in the western Pacific, an area where two Chinese aircraft carriers were seen operating together for the first time earlier this month.
