Japan Reveals Upgraded Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile Prototype

The Japanese Ministry of Defense unveiled a new photo of the under-development upgraded Type 12 surface-to-ship missile (SSM) on July 12.

The photo, included in the latest annual defense white paper published on Friday, reveals the missile’s shape, bearing a resemblance to the Franco-British Storm Shadow/SCALP EG cruise missile. The Type 12 SSM, designed and manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, features an air intake located on the underside of the fuselage, consistent with the model shown in the 2022 defense white paper.

The improved Type 12 missile prototype has passed various ground tests, the ministry revealed. The original Type 12 SSM had an operational range of about 200 km. The upgraded version aims to extend this range to at least 900 km, with the potential to reach 1,200 km. The missile’s shape has been altered to reduce its radar cross-section (RCS) and enhance its stealth capabilities.

In December 2023, Japan’s Defense Minister Minoru Kihara announced that the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) would begin deploying the land-based upgraded Type 12 SSM starting in fiscal year 2025, a year ahead of schedule.

Japan’s stand-off missile capability is currently centered on the upgraded Type 12 SSM. Stand-off missiles allow military forces to strike targets, such as enemy missile bases, from beyond the enemy’s range. In light of China’s ongoing military expansion, the Japanese government is accelerating efforts to enhance its defense capabilities.

The defense ministry has also expedited the deployment of U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles, which have a range of over 1,600 km, moving up the timeline to fiscal 2025, a year earlier than initially planned.