Japan Takes Its 1,000 km Type 25 Anti-Ship Missile Off Base for the First Time
Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) has taken its Type 25 surface-to-ship missile outside its home garrison for the first time, rehearsing launch procedures at a training area in Kyushu during the Japan-US exercise Keen Sword. The Ministry of Defense showed the drill to reporters on Sunday, 25 October 2026, at the Onohara training area on the border of Nagasaki and Saga prefectures. No missile was fired (FNN, Mainichi Shimbun).
- Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) deployed a Type 25 surface-to-ship missile unit outside its garrison for the first time
- The drill took place at the Onohara training area on the Nagasaki-Saga border during the Japan-US exercise Keen Sword and was shown to the media on 25 October 2026
- No missile was fired; troops rehearsed the steps up to launch readiness against ships at sea
- The Type 25 is the upgraded, ground-launched Type 12 and entered service at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto on 31 March 2026
- Japanese media put its range at about 1,000 km; Tokyo counts it as part of its new counterstrike capability
What happened at Onohara
According to Mainichi, about ten soldiers from the 5th Surface-to-Ship Missile Regiment took part in the part of the drill opened to the press. A launcher vehicle drove to a firing position and raised its launcher towards the assumed target, going through the steps up to readiness to fire on ships at sea (Mainichi, Asahi Shimbun).
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that about 60 personnel had been sent to Onohara for the exercise and that the launcher is about 11 m long and 2.5 m wide. It also said the range set for the drill was not disclosed and that US forces were not directly involved in this part of the training, although information was being shared with them (Yonhap).
The Type 25 missile
The Type 25 is the ground-launched version of the upgraded Type 12 surface-to-ship missile. The GSDF announced on 31 March 2026 that development had been completed, gave the missile its new designation and deployed the first unit to Camp Kengun in Kumamoto the same day. On that date, the Type 25 Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile, a separate weapon, entered service at Camp Fuji in Shizuoka (JGSDF news release).
Japanese media report a range of about 1,000 km. Mainichi said that from Kumamoto this covers much of the Korean Peninsula and China’s eastern coast, while Asahi said it reaches the Chinese coast and the waters around Taiwan (Mainichi, Asahi). For the original system, see our explainer on the Type 12 anti-ship missile.
Previous developments
The missile is one of the stand-off weapons Japan is fielding as part of the “counterstrike capability” set out in its 2022 security documents. GSDF Chief of Staff General Arai Masayoshi said on 20 October that long-range missiles show Japan’s resolve and strengthen deterrence, according to Asahi, which also reported local concern that hosting such units could make communities a target (Asahi).
Keen Sword runs from 19 to 29 October. FNN put participation at about 57,000 Japanese and US personnel, with Australia and other countries also taking part, while Nikkei reported before the exercise that about 45,000 Self-Defense Force personnel would join, alongside forces from Australia, Canada and France (FNN, Nikkei).
Industry context
The Type 12 system is built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which lists it among its missile products (MHI). The move from a short-range coastal-defence role to a weapon reported at around 1,000 km marks a change in what Japan’s ground forces are expected to do: hold ships at risk far from the home islands rather than only near the shore. For a wider view of Japanese force structure, see our analysis of how strong Japan’s military is.
Sources: Japan Ground Staff Office news release (31 March 2026); FNN, Mainichi Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun (25 October 2026); Yonhap (25 October 2026); Nikkei (29 September 2026); Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
