Fearing China’s rise, Japan coughs up US$2.9 billion for long-range missiles

Mass production of the land-to-ship guided missiles and hypersonic gliding missiles will begin this year, Japan’s Defence Ministry said

Officials refused to provide the number of missiles that Japan plans to deploy, but their roll-out could begin as early as 2026

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A Japanese Type-3 medium-distance surface-to-air missile launcher (left) and a Type-12 surface-to-ship missile launcher are seen during a ceremony marking the opening of a new garrison in Okinawa prefecture, southern Japan, this month. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 12:04pm, 12 Apr 2023

Japan’s Defence Ministry has signed contracts worth nearly 380 billion yen (US$2.9 billion) with the country’s top defence contractor, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, to develop and mass produce long-range missiles for deployment as early as 2026 amid growing fears of China’s increasing military strength.

The ministry said the contracts include enhanced versions of Mitsubishi’s Type 12 missiles for surface, sea and air launches, and a hypersonic ballistic missile for the defence of remote islands.

Mass production of Type 12 land-to-ship guided missiles and hypersonic gliding missiles, which have already been developed, will begin this year, the ministry said. Officials refused to provide the number of missiles that Japan plans to deploy but indicated that production is expected to gradually increase over the next five years.

Due to limited land space at home, Japan plans to hold pre-deployment missile tests at military bases in the United States, ministry officials said on Tuesday.

Vessels from the navies of Japan, South Korea and the US, including the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier (centre), sail in formation during a joint naval exercise last week. Photo: South Korea Defence Ministry via AP

Another contract is for development of submarine-launched long-range anti-ship guided missiles, beginning this year and planned through 2027. Timing for their deployment is still undecided.