Japan to develop air-to-ship long-range cruise missiles to deter China’s navy, source says
- Military source said aim is to extend Tokyo’s shooting range to more than 400km as China improves its naval capabilities
Japan has decided to develop for the first time air-to-ship long-range cruise missiles to be carried by fighter jets and capable of attacking a warship from outside the range of an enemy’s weapons, government sources said on Sunday.
The plan is aimed at boosting Japan’s deterrence by extending the shooting range to more than 400km as China has been improving its naval capabilities, the sources said.
The forthcoming development will be based on Japan’s supersonic XASM-3 air-to-ship missiles, which are said to have a range of not more than 200km, they said.
The Defence Ministry will include expenses necessary for the new project in its draft budget soon.
In January, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told lawmakers he believes long-range cruise missiles are not weapons banned under the country’s pacifist constitution.