Japan Deploys First Domestically Produced Long-Range Counterstrike Missiles at Strategic Bases in Major Defense Policy Shift

Japan stations long-range Type 12 missiles at two bases, marking a historic shift toward counterstrike capabilities in response to regional security threats.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 2:42 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Anadolu Agency

The Operational Debut of Domestic Stand-Off Weaponry

The Japanese Ministry of Defense has crossed a significant technological and strategic threshold with the activation of its first domestically developed long-range counterstrike assets. In a formal announcement on Tuesday, the Ground Self-Defense Force confirmed that advanced stand-off missiles are now operational at two key bases, following a period of accelerated research and development. This deployment is framed by Tokyo as a necessary response to an increasingly volatile security landscape in East Asia, providing the nation with the independent capability to strike targets at significant distances for the first time in the post-war era.

Strategic Positioning at Camp Kengun and Camp Fuji

The initial deployment of these high-tech systems has been concentrated at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto Prefecture and Camp Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture. According to official reports, Camp Kengun has been outfitted with an upgraded variant of the Type 12 land-to-ship guided missile, which features a significantly extended range of approximately 1,000 kilometers. This range effectively allows Japanese forces to reach portions of the continental coastline from the southwestern island of Kyushu, fundamentally altering the tactical geometry of the region’s maritime corridors.

Hyper-Velocity Projectiles and Remote Island Defense

While the Type 12 focuses on long-range maritime interdiction, the units at Camp Fuji are focused on the development and study of hyper-velocity gliding projectiles. These advanced systems are specifically engineered for the rapid defense of Japan’s remote islands, where traditional defensive postures have long been considered insufficient against modern aerial and naval threats. The Ministry of Defense noted that the training units at Camp Fuji will be responsible for refining the operational methods and command structures required to integrate these high-speed assets into the broader national defense architecture.