Japan’s defense ministry has given Mitsubishi Heavy Industries two large production mandates as part of a concerted push to amplify its strike and anti-ship capability amid increasing concerns about China and North Korea. One deal covers a submarine-fired cruise missile designed to be launched from torpedo tubes, bringing extended range and land-attack functionality to Japan’s undersea fleet. The other funds mass production of an enhanced Type 12 surface-to-ship missile that expands the weapon’s operational envelope and introduces features to reduce detectability while adding ground-strike roles. The upgraded Type 12 initiative seeks to push the missile’s baseline range well beyond its earlier approximate 200-kilometer capability and equip it with a more sophisticated seeker and navigation suite that combine GPS with terrain matching. Design changes aim to lower the missile’s radar signature and permit accurate strikes against both maritime and land targets. The missile is deployed from an eight-wheeled mobile launcher carrying six rounds and is expected to enter service in the mid-to-late 2020s, helping Japan field deeper, more flexible coastal and anti-ship defenses. The submarine-launched missile is being developed to provide Japanese submarines with precision-strike reach beyond current Harpoon-derived capabilities. While specifics are sparse, the weapon is expected to increase the submarine force’s capacity to target high-value shore and sea targets from standoff ranges, complementing surface and air-launched strike layers. Development was contracted in 2023 and production commitments followed as Tokyo accelerates delivery timelines to meet evolving threat assessments. Together, the procurements reflect Japan’s strategy to rapidly acquire indigenous stand-off weapons that can intercept and degrade hostile operations at longer distances. The measures build on earlier missile development contracts awarded to Mitsubishi and are intended to integrate with existing Type 12 launchers, ensuring logistical continuity while delivering expanded operational options for Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.
