Japan plans to deploy its domestically developed long-range missiles a year earlier than previously planned. The country is stepping up efforts to bolster its strike capability in response to growing challenges in the region, the Associated Press reported.
Under the new schedule, the first batch of domestically developed Type-12 anti-ship missiles will be installed at the Kengun military base in southwestern Kumamoto Prefecture by March 2026. The Type-12 missile has a range of about 1,000 kilometers.
Japan is seeking to create a more self-reliant military as a deterrent against China’s increasingly assertive naval activity in the region. In June, Japan first spotted two Chinese aircraft carriers operating almost simultaneously near Japan’s southern islands. Japan is also concerned about rising tensions caused by North Korea and Russia.
The efforts mark a historic shift. Japan, under its pacifist post-World War II constitution, limited the use of force to self-defense. But it made a major breakthrough in that policy in 2022 when it adopted a five-year security strategy that singles out China as the biggest strategic challenge and calls for a closer Japan-U.S. alliance and more offensive roles for the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.
The country is increasing military spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2027 under an arms buildup plan, while facing pressure from the United States, a treaty ally, to do more.
The announcement of the accelerated missile program schedule coincides with the defense ministry’s request for a record 8.8 trillion yen ($59.9 billion) in the fiscal 2026 budget, which will focus on long-range missiles and drones to counter threats from China, North Korea and Russia. With indigenous missiles still under development, Japan plans to deploy U.S.-developed Tomahawks later this year.
The Japanese Defense Ministry is also looking to deploy unmanned aerial, surface and underwater surveillance drones to protect Japan's coasts as the country with an aging and shrinking population struggles with a shortage of military personnel.