Deployment of Long-range Counterstrike Missiles

Japan’s Self-defense Force for the first time possessed standoff missile capability, which can strike military bases of an enemy from the place out of enemy’s reach. The force deployed cutting-edge counterstrike missiles in bases in Kumamoto and Shizuoka on March 31st. Acknowledging Iran’s strikes on bases of the United States Force in Gulf countries, the residents around the bases are anxious about possibility of being targeted by the enemy.

Based on Article 9 of its constitution, Japan had been maintaining exclusively defense-oriented policy, not possessing a capability of striking enemy’s bases. It was controversial that former Shinzo Abe administration included possession of standoff firearms to counter enemy ships or landing troops in the National Defense Program Guidelines in 2018. Former prime minister Fumio Kishida decided to enhance capability of standoff missile in National Defense Strategy in 2022. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi followed those decisions of her predecessors.

 

On March 31st, 2026, Ground Self-defense Force deployed Type-25 surface-to-ship missiles, upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles, with range of 1,000 kilometers in Camp Kengun in Kumamoto. That missile targets aircraft carrier or amphibious assault ship in operation of landing islands, covering Nansei Islands of Okinawa and coastal area of mainland China.

 

The force also installed in Fuji Camp Type-25 hyper velocity gliding projectiles (HVGP) for island defense with range of 2,000 kilometers, which would be hard for the enemy to capture in radar. The HVDP is designed to strike enemy’s troops that have landed on an island. Type-25 HVGP will also be deployed in Camp Ebino in Miyazaki and Camp Kamifurano in Hokkaido later in FY2026.

 

Maritime Self-defense Force has finished renovation of an Aegis destroyer, Chokai, which is loadable long-range land-attacking missile, Tomahawk, with range of 1,600 kilometers. Chokai is expected to be deployed at Sasebo Base, Nagasaki, by September 2026. Air Self-defense Force started introduction of Norwegian-made joint strike missile (JSM) to be installed in F35A fighter jets.

 

Those deployments are regarded as a major change in Japan’s exclusively defense-oriented policy, even though the Japanese government had explained that the capability would work as a deterrence to discourage an enemy’s intention of attacking Japan. It is unclear that a possible enemy of Japan will not have any intention of making preemptive strike on those missile capabilities in Japan.

 

The residents around the camps with deployment of counterstrike missile capability are worried about being targetted. The people living close to Camp Fuji in Shizuoka once had an agreement with Japanese government not to deploy any missile in the area in 1967. Some residents are frustrated with the deployment of those long-range missiles. It is also concerned that the government can really be able to obtain approval from the Diet, which is legally required, in an actual case of launching those counterstrike missiles. 

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