Japan's Type-25 Missile Makes Its First Appearance in Japan-U.S. Keen Sword 26, 1000 km Range Changes Defense of the Southwestern Islands

On October 25, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Type-25 anti-ship guided missile launcher, deployed from the Kengun Garrison in Kumamoto Prefecture, made its appearance at a training ground in Kyushu. Although live fire was not conducted, the fact that this missile was incorporated into the Japan-U.S. joint training for the first time during Keen Sword 26, which is being held from October 19 to 29, is significant. This exercise, involving approximately 57,000 personnel from nine countries including Japan and the U.S., is not merely a large-scale command post exercise but a practical verification of dispersing long-range firepower to the island regions.

Firepower Integration Demonstrated by Type-25

• Range: Approximately 1000 km
• Positioning: Stand-off firepower equivalent to the improved Type 12 anti-ship guided missile
• This training: Confirmation of target setting and launch procedures based on information from both Japan and the U.S.

According to NHK, the Ministry of Defense describes this missile as part of its counterattack capability in the event of an emergency. The important aspect is not just the range itself, but the fact that the procedures for utilizing the Self-Defense Forces' firepower based on U.S. intelligence have been incorporated into actual joint training. If the intervals between sensors, command communications, and launchers are shortened, the adversary will find it difficult to grasp the overall picture by only monitoring fixed bases.

The Shape of Maritime Denial Seen from Yonaguni Island

On the other hand, Defense News reported that during this exercise, the U.S. Marine Corps' NMESIS anti-ship system and MADIS air defense system will be deployed for the first time on Yonaguni Island. The island is approximately 110 km from Taiwan, and the U.S. NMESIS, Japan's Type-25 and Type-88 anti-ship missiles, and the Type 03 medium-range surface-to-air missile will be dispersed across multiple islands. This represents a shift from the concept of constantly deploying large vessels to a strategy of denying maritime areas using mobile launchers and aerial and maritime sensors.

From the perspective of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, this does not mean that "the sea can be managed without vessels." Maintaining SLOC (Sea Lines of Communication) requires post-launch assessment of results, reloading, recovery of malfunctioning equipment, and the use of ports and civilian airports. Missiles placed on the island will only have the capability for a single volley without a supply network.

The Biggest Weakness Is Not the Range

According to publicly released materials from the Ministry of Defense, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, U.S. Coast Guard, and Philippine Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard also participated in this maritime cooperative activity. Increasing cooperation partners in the southwestern region is effective in reducing surveillance gaps. However, during Keen Sword 26, 33 prefectures, 7 airports, and 12 ports will be utilized. While dispersion enhances survivability, it also emphasizes dependence on civilian infrastructure and the need for resident consent.

The real challenge is not the figure of 1000 km for the Type-25. It is about who will pass target information to the firing units, with what authority, and at what speed. Even if Japan-U.S. information sharing becomes more sophisticated, if the ports and roads in the island regions cannot be used, firepower will not be able to move. What this exercise has shown is not just that Japan has become capable of striking from a distance, but rather the often-overlooked reality that the alliance's military capabilities depend on the capacity of civilian spaces.

Reference Information

• NHK WORLD-JAPAN, Japan-U.S. field drill features new missiles, October 25, 2026
• Defense News, U.S. Marine Corps anti-ship weaponry to see exercise action on remote Japan island near Taiwan, October 5, 2026
• Ministry of Defense, Japan Self-Defense Forces, Japan-U.S.-Philippines Joint Training Maritime Cooperative Activity, October 25, 2026