Mentioned:Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Japan showed the Type 25 surface-to-ship guided missile at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto on October 3, marking the first public display of its 1,000 km range counterstrike weapon since deployment in March 2026. Built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the system represents the operational fielding of Japan's 2022 National Security Strategy shift toward strike-back capability.
What's happening
- Japan Ground Self-Defense Force displayed the Type 25 surface-to-ship missile launcher and support vehicles at Camp Kengun to approximately 80 local residents on October 3, 2026.
- The Type 25 is a ground-launched upgrade of the Type 12 anti-ship missile, extending range from 200 km to 1,000 km, built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
- The missile was formally deployed to Camp Kengun on March 31, 2026, marking Japan's first fielded counterstrike weapon under the 2022 National Security Strategy.
- Japan Defense Ministry plans ship-launched and air-launched variants for fiscal 2027 deployment to Maritime and Air Self-Defense Force units.
Why it matters
- Type 25 range of 1,000 km extends Japan's strike reach across the East China Sea to mainland China's coast and the Korean Peninsula from Kyushu positions.
- The system operationalizes counterstrike doctrine, enabling Japan to strike enemy bases and launch sites from beyond adversary weapon ranges.
- Planned naval and air variants will distribute strike capability across three services, complicating regional adversary defensive planning and expanding coverage.
- Deployment validates Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' ability to scale and integrate long-range anti-ship guidance at continental ranges for allied operations.
Going deeper
- Type 25 is one of two new long-range weapons Japan deployed in 2026, alongside the Type 25 Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile fielded at Camp Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture.
- Camp Kengun sits in a residential area, and local residents had requested public disclosure before the October 3 display following March deployment without community notification.
Source: defence-blog.com · Oct 4, 2026 · Drafted with Claude, reviewed by Industrial Base Alpha.