Japan Accelerates Strategic Defense Shift With First Deployment of Homegrown Long Range Counterstrike Missiles

Japan stations Type-25 missiles and hyper-velocity gliders in a major policy shift aimed at deterring regional threats and securing its Pacific islands.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 2, 2026, 12:16 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Japan Times

Strategic Activation of Long Range Strike Assets

The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force has formally integrated the Type-25 surface-to-ship missile, an upgraded version of the Type-12, at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto. With a range of approximately 1,000 kilometers, these weapons provide the Japanese military with the ability to reach the Chinese coastline and the majority of North Korean territory from domestic soil. This deployment represents a tangible shift in Tokyo's military posture, as the government seeks to establish a credible "counterstrike capability" to deter potential adversaries in an increasingly volatile East Asian security landscape.

Technological Advances in Hyper Velocity Projectiles

Simultaneous with the missile rollout, Japan has stationed new hyper velocity gliding projectiles, designated as the Type-25 HVGP, at Camp Fuji. These advanced weapons are designed to be launched from the ground and travel at supersonic speeds along irregular trajectories, making them exceptionally difficult for existing missile defense systems to intercept. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi emphasized that these initiatives are of paramount importance to Japan’s response capabilities, noting that the current security environment is the most complex the nation has faced since the conclusion of World War II.

Addressing the Regional Missile Imbalance

The rapid implementation of these weapon systems is a direct response to the massive missile arsenal maintained by the Chinese military, which is estimated to possess nearly 2,000 ground-launched missiles with ranges exceeding 1,000 kilometers. As China increases its naval and aerial activity near Taiwan and within the Pacific Ocean, Japanese officials argue that a domestic counterstrike capability is necessary to bridge the power gap. By positioning these assets in Kumamoto, Japan effectively places the waters northeast of Taiwan and critical maritime corridors under its defensive umbrella.