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Source: Global Times

[Global Times Special Correspondent Chen Yang] Japan has recently announced a new generation of offensive weapons, including an improved Type 12 surface-to-ship missile with a range of 1,000 kilometers, a hypersonic missile with a range of 500 kilometers, and a US-made air-launched long-range anti-ship missile. These new missiles, known as "aircraft carrier killers," will greatly enhance Japan's long-range strike and anti-ship capabilities, while also allowing Japan to take another dangerous step in acquiring offensive weapons.

Latest long-range anti-ship missile debuts

The U.S. "Defense Blog" website stated on the 13th that Japan revealed the latest developments in its missile technology in the 2024 edition of the "Defense White Paper" released on the 12th, and for the first time released a photo of the prototype of the improved Type 12 land-to-ship missile known as the "aircraft carrier killer", emphasizing the missile's significant progress in strengthening Japan's out-of-area strike capabilities.

The prototype of Japan's latest improved Type 12 surface-to-ship missile

The report said that the latest version of the Defense White Paper introduced "the prototype of the enhanced Type 12 surface-to-ship missile that has undergone various ground tests", indicating that this new missile developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has made significant improvements. The Japanese domestically produced Type 12 anti-ship missile, which was unveiled earlier, was officially put into service in 2015. It was developed from the Type 88 anti-ship missile and is a typical subsonic cruise missile with a total length of about 5 meters and a maximum range of 200 kilometers. It adopts the composite guidance method of "inertial + GPS + terrain matching guidance + terminal active radar guidance", which has a good hit rate and high flexibility.

US media noted that in 2022, the Japanese Ministry of Defense released photos of an improved version of the Type 12 surface-to-ship missile. It is completely different from the current model and uses a swept-back wing folded on the back of the missile body. This layout is similar to a cruise missile and can be automatically deployed after launch, which can greatly increase the range of the missile. At the same time, the appearance of the missile has also been improved to be stealthy. The head of the missile is olive-shaped, the middle section of the missile body is a hexagonal cross-section, and a fixed air inlet is installed at the bottom of the missile body. Compared with the photos released in 2022, the latest Type 12 surface-to-ship missile that appeared in the 2024 edition of the "Defense White Paper" retains the overall design and air inlet position, but the appearance has been significantly changed. The new version of the missile has more obvious swept wings and a clear X-shaped tail, indicating that it has made significant improvements in aerodynamic performance and stability, and is close to finalization and mass production.

According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense, as the core of Japan's defense strategy, "the Type 12 land-to-ship missile has undergone major improvements to meet the changing security challenges in the region". The maximum range of the improved Type 12 missile will be increased to more than 1,000 kilometers, which is designed to enable Japan to strike important targets outside the range of enemy air defense systems, "ensuring a strong response posture to potential threats". The report also mentioned that the reason why Japan is so eager to advance the development and deployment of the improved Type 12 missile "shows the strategic importance of the missile in maintaining regional security".

The U.S. Aviation Weekly website also stated on the 12th that Japan highlighted the development of standoff weapons and missile defense capabilities in the 2024 edition of the Defense White Paper. The white paper also emphasized the urgency of strengthening Japan's standoff strike capabilities, "We are fundamentally strengthening our standoff response capabilities to invading ships and landing forces, including in island areas. Japan will deploy enhanced Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles starting in fiscal 2025 and acquire U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles one year ahead of schedule."

Public video of hypersonic missile launch

In addition to the improved Type 12 anti-ship missile, the U.S. Defense News noted on the 11th that the Japanese Ministry of Defense recently released a rare video of the latest launch of a hypersonic missile. According to reports, Japan had "conducted a pre-launch test of the hypersonic glide projectile (HVGP) for island defense" in California, the United States on March 23. Timothy Wright, an associate researcher at the defense and military analysis project of the British think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies, believes that the Ministry of Defense has conducted two preliminary tests of the HVGP in March and April 2024. The Japanese Ministry of Defense's Equipment Agency (ATLA) did not specify whether the warhead achieved a critical separation from the booster in these two tests. According to the design, the HVGP is launched by a booster, after which the warhead will separate and glide at high speed in the atmosphere toward the target.

In recent years, Japan has repeatedly claimed that "the threat from the PLA to the Okinawa Islands is increasing", and the maximum range of the current anti-ship missiles of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force is only about 200 kilometers, and more advanced hypersonic missiles need to be introduced to protect the "Southwest Islands". The report mentioned that when the HVGP began to be developed in fiscal 2015, it was planned to be put into use in 2029. However, Japan believes that "the security environment has deteriorated" and requires the development of the missile to be accelerated by 3 years. The Block 1 version, which is currently being tested and belongs to the first phase, uses a double-cone warhead with a tail rudder, which can attack ground targets and ships at sea. It flies at a speed of more than 5 times the speed of sound and has a maximum range of about 500 kilometers. It is expected to join the Ground Self-Defense Force in 2026. The U.S. Navy News website said that subsequent improved models also include Block 2A with a range of 2,000 kilometers and Block 2B with a range of 3,000 kilometers. They use more advanced waverider shapes and ramjet engines, and are expected to fly faster. They will be put into use in fiscal 2027 and fiscal 2030, respectively. According to the Defense Construction Plan released by the Ministry of Defense in December 2022, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force will form two HVGP-equipped units in Kyushu and Hokkaido, respectively, and their strike range has covered most of the Asia-Pacific region. It is particularly worth mentioning that Japan previously released a demonstration animation of HVGP attacking an aircraft carrier at sea, in which the aircraft carrier targeted by the HVGP looks like the ski-jump aircraft carrier equipped by China and Russia.

“Will have one of the strongest long-range strike capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region”

Wright said that Japan is currently breaking the restrictions of the pacifist constitution since 1945 and purchasing a large number of missiles with attack capabilities. Researchers at the International Institute for Strategic Studies said that Japan is developing "at least seven new sea-, land- and air-launched missiles for land and sea missions, and purchasing three different missile models from the United States." Wright said: "Once these missiles are put into use in large numbers, Japan will have one of the most powerful long-range strike capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region."

What has attracted the attention of the outside world is that these missiles also include the US-made Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM). ATLA confirmed on July 4 that it had signed a relevant procurement agreement with the United States. This advanced anti-ship weapon can be mounted on Japan's F-15J fighter jets. In August last year, the United States approved the sale of 50 such missiles to Japan for US$104 million. According to Lockheed Martin, the missile obtained by Japan has a maximum range of more than 900 kilometers. It adopts a stealth design and is equipped with a weapon data link. It can reposition the target during flight. It is mainly used to strike the opponent's reinforced targets and naval ships in the deep areas.

In recent years, Japan has been continuously developing offensive weapons. According to the United Press International, Japan's hypersonic weapons may be used to attack military bases of other countries, which has aroused concerns that Japan has violated its peace constitution. The Swedish Institute for Security and Development Policy warned that these weapons development plans of Japan are very risky and may further disrupt the stability of Northeast Asia. A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Japan has continuously broken through the constraints of its peace constitution and its commitment to exclusive defense, significantly increased its defense spending, and developed offensive weapons, sending a dangerous signal to countries in the region and even the world.