Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan’s Ministry of Defense released a statement on Friday stated that Japan’s military is strengthening its stand-off defense capabilities “to enable the early and distant interception and elimination of invading forces targeting Japan.”

The Ministry says the move reflected “the most severe and complex security environment surrounding Japan since the end of World War II.”

The statement said the development of Japan’s domestically produced stand-off missile is “progressing smoothly.” The final launch test for the high-speed glide missile for island defense was conducted in the United States from June to August, while the second launch test for the Type 12 Ground-to-Ship Guided Missile Enhanced Capability is scheduled to be conducted in the United States from October. 

Deployment is likely to be at bases in Kumamoto Prefecture in western Japan and Shizuoka Prefecture to the west of Tokyo, while new units will be formed in Hokkaido in northern Japan and Miyazaki Prefecture in western Japan.

The Ministry noted that the deployment will be ahead of schedule. The Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Guided Missile, originally scheduled for fiscal year 2028 and beyond, will now be deployed in fiscal year 2027, while the deployment of high-speed glide missiles for island defense is now scheduled for fiscal year 2025, one year early.