The examination included the Type 88 surface-to-ship, short-range missile and took place at the Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range, situated on the northernmost primary island of Hokkaido.
On Tuesday, Japan’s military announced that it had conducted a missile test on its own territory for the first time, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance its defense capabilities in response to escalating regional tensions.
The test involved the Type 88 surface-to-ship short-range missile and was executed at the Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range, situated on Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of Japan.
Officials reported that around 300 personnel from the Ground Self-Defense Force’s 1st Artillery Brigade participated in the exercise. The drill utilized a training missile targeting an unmanned vessel located approximately 40 kilometers (24 miles) off the southern coast of Hokkaido.
The Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) indicated that the assessment of the test results is still in progress.
Due to spatial constraints and safety considerations, Japan has previously carried out missile tests in the territories of the United States, a treaty ally, and Australia, a key defense partner where extensive training grounds are accessible.
The inaugural domestic missile test on Tuesday highlights Japan’s commitment to developing a more self-reliant military and acquiring strike-back capabilities as a deterrent against China’s increasingly assertive naval operations in regional waters.
Japan is also apprehensive about the rising joint military exercises occurring around its coasts between China and Russia.
Japan and Russia, which is a northern neighbor to Hokkaido, have ongoing territorial disputes.
Historically, Japan, under its pacifist Constitution, restricted the use of force for self-defense purposes only; however, it significantly deviated from that policy in 2022 by adopting a five-year security strategy that identifies China as the primary strategic challenge and advocates for a closer alliance with the United States.
Currently, Japan is working on deploying long-range cruise missiles, including Tomahawks acquired from the U.S., starting later this year.
Additionally, Japan is in the process of developing Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles with a range of approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), which is ten times greater than that of the Type 88.
The Type 88 guided missile, which is mounted on trucks and developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan, has an operational range of approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles).
Additionally, Japan is making arrangements to construct a missile-firing range on the uninhabited island of Minamitorishima, the easternmost island of the country located in the western Pacific. This area recently witnessed the unprecedented joint operation of two Chinese aircraft carriers earlier this month.
