Japan has awarded Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) two contracts to begin large-scale production of advanced missile systems — a submarine-launched guided missile and an enhanced Type 12 surface-to-ship missile. The decision underscores Tokyo’s growing emphasis on long-range strike and stand-off defense capabilities amid increasing threats from neighboring China and North Korea.
The Ministry of Defense disclosed that the contract for the submarine-launched missile is worth roughly 2.9 billion yen ($19 million), while the upgraded Type 12 missile deal amounts to about 25 billion yen ($164 million). According to the ministry’s timeline, the new Type 12 variant will be fielded by fiscal year 2027, with the submarine-launched system expected to follow by 2028. Both programs aim to strengthen Japan’s ability to engage distant adversaries before they can pose direct risks to national security.
Japan’s defense officials highlighted that the modernization effort is central to the Self-Defense Forces’ evolving doctrine of early detection and long-range deterrence. The upgraded Type 12, under development since 2022, will extend its range to around 900 kilometers, incorporate a reduced radar cross-section, and gain the ability to conduct precision land strikes. Mounted on eight-wheeled mobile launchers, each unit can carry six missiles using GPS and terrain-tracking navigation with AESA radar guidance for target accuracy.
The newly developed submarine-launched missile is intended to surpass the performance of the Harpoon Block II, offering extended reach and advanced land-attack capability. It is part of Japan’s push to enable submarines to strike enemy installations and missile bases from standoff ranges. While details remain classified, reports suggest the design draws heavily from the improved Type 12 platform. The two programs complement earlier agreements with MHI to develop long-range surface-to-ship and surface-to-surface precision missiles, expected to enter operational service by 2032 — reinforcing Japan’s shift toward an integrated and resilient deterrence posture.
