Japan Deploys Long-Range Missiles for Counterstrike

Japan's Ministry of Defense announced on March 10 that the country will deploy two types of domestically developed long-range missiles starting March 31, marking the initial operationalization of its counterstrike capabilities amid heightened regional security concerns. The deployments include a ground-launched hypersonic glide vehicle, known as the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile, to Camp Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture, and an upgraded Type 12 surface-to-ship missile to Camp Kengun in Kumamoto Prefecture.

The Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile, with a range of several hundred kilometers, is designed for defending remote islands, particularly in the East China Sea where territorial disputes persist. Assigned to an artillery training unit at Camp Fuji, the system will initially support tactical development and training. Officials plan further expansions to bases in Hokkaido and Miyazaki Prefecture by fiscal year 2026, with an advanced version potentially reaching up to 2,000 kilometers under development.

At Camp Kengun in central Kyushu, the upgraded Type 12 missile extends the original model's range from 200 kilometers to about 1,000 kilometers, enabling strikes on distant...