"Type 25 Ship-to-Ship Missile" Appears in Japan-U.S. Military Exercises

Reference News Network reported on October 28 According to Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun on October 26, on October 25, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Ohnohara training ground in Nagasaki and Saga Prefectures publicly disclosed for the first time the training situation of the "Type 25 Ship-to-Ground Missile" to the media. This missile is classified as a long-range stand-off missile and is regarded by the Japanese government as a core pillar for achieving "counterstrike capability."

In light of neighboring countries strengthening their maritime activities, the Japanese government plans to advance the deployment and training of such missiles. However, local residents are concerned that this could make the area a target for attacks.

The "Type 25 Ship-to-Ground Missile" is estimated to have a range of over 1,000 kilometers, aiming to achieve a deterrent effect by incapacitating the opponent's combat capabilities.

This training is part of the ongoing "Sword" joint exercise between Japan and the United States. During the exercise, the Self-Defense Forces transported the "Type 25 Ship-to-Ground Missile," which was deployed in March at the Kengun garrison in Kumamoto City, to the training ground and practiced the launch device activation process targeting enemy vessels. Although live-fire exercises were not conducted, the exercise included a target positioning segment based on intelligence collected by both Japan and the U.S. to locate the vessels.

Japanese Ministry of Defense officials emphasized, "Joint missile exercises with counterstrike capabilities between Japan and the U.S. help to deter neighboring countries."

In this fiscal year, the Ministry of Defense will add the deployment of the "Type 25 Ship-to-Ground Missile" at the Kengun garrison and plans to deploy it at the Fuji garrison in Shizuoka Prefecture in fiscal year 2027. Additionally, the Ministry of Defense plans to deploy the "Type 25 High-Speed Glide Bomb" to the garrisons in Kamifurano, Hokkaido, and Ebino, Miyazaki Prefecture within this fiscal year. This weapon flies at supersonic speeds at high altitudes, making it extremely difficult to intercept. In fiscal year 2027, Japan will also begin utilizing similar missiles that can be launched from destroyers or fighter jets and plans to gradually conduct corresponding deployment training.

However, there are voices of opposition to the deployment around the Kengun garrison. Kenji Shiroto, the chairman of the agreement committee formed by local自治会 and other organizations, expressed concerns, asking, "In the event of an emergency, will the Kengun garrison become a target for attacks?"

When planning this exercise, the Ministry of Defense considered deploying it to the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa Prefecture but ultimately abandoned the idea. Okinawa Ishigaki City Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama expressed a negative attitude towards the deployment or dispatch of stand-off missiles. In an interview on the 22nd, he also clearly stated, "There is no need to conduct such training on Ishigaki Island." (Translated by Chen Rui)