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Japan to Test Type 88 Long Range Missile on Home Soil to Strengthen Deterrence Against China.
For the first time since the creation of its Self-Defense Forces, Japan is set to carry out a live-fire long-range missile exercise within its own borders, marking a significant shift in its national defense doctrine. Scheduled between June 19 and 30, 2025, the drill will take place at the coastal missile range adjacent to Camp Shizunai in Shinhidaka, on the southern coast of Hokkaido. This area, located near the Sea of Okhotsk and the Tsugaru Strait, holds strategic value not only due to its proximity to Russia but also for its control over northeastern maritime routes. The announcement reported by Asahi was made by the Ministry of Defense on May 13 and 14, confirming that two non-explosive Type 88 training missiles will be launched on separate days at a maritime target located within a 40-kilometer radius southwest of the launch site.
The Type 88 follows a complex preprogrammed path, allowing it to bypass terrain features, cross mountainous areas, and reach the sea at low altitude before acquiring its target with a terminal active radar seeker operating in the Ku band (Picture source: Telegram Channel 軍事日本 ❁ )
The Type 88, or 88式地対艦誘導弾 (SSM-1), is a ground-launched anti-ship missile developed entirely in Japan, based on the ASM-1 air-to-ship missile created in the late 1970s. Introduced into operational service in 1988, the Type 88 follows a doctrine adapted to Japan’s geographic constraints: it is designed to be deployed more than 100 kilometers inland to avoid preemptive strikes by enemy naval forces attempting an amphibious landing. Unlike other coastal-based missiles such as the Exocet or Harpoon, the Type 88 follows a complex preprogrammed path, allowing it to bypass terrain features, cross mountainous areas, and reach the sea at low altitude before acquiring its target with a terminal active radar seeker operating in the Ku band. This radar offers accurate tracking capabilities even in contested electromagnetic environments and can switch mid-flight to a “Home on Jam” mode to follow jamming sources. The missile’s target selection algorithm, based on statistical criteria, helps avoid decoys or targets with high radar signatures that do not represent real threats. The missile is approximately 5 meters long, 35 centimeters in diameter, weighs 650 kg, and carries a conventional warhead of 225 to 270 kg. It reaches a subsonic cruise speed of Mach 0.93, or about 1,150 km/h, and has an estimated operational range of 150 kilometers. Its airframe is coated with radar-absorbing materials, including magnetic elements, to reduce its radar cross-section and improve penetration capability.
This upcoming drill marks a turning point. Never before has a missile of this kind been launched in Japanese airspace. Until now, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) relied on foreign facilities for such operations, primarily in the United States. In October 2023, a similar exercise took place at Point Mugu Sea Range, west of Los Angeles, to take advantage of larger training zones. Bringing this activity back to Japanese territory carries a strong operational signal. It aims to expand training access for domestic units and improve readiness on a larger scale. The 2025 drill will involve approximately 300 personnel—twice the number deployed in the previous U.S.-based exercise—and will be led by the JGSDF’s 1st Artillery Brigade under the Northern Army, headquartered in Hokkaido. The missile launches will be spaced out and dependent on weather conditions. Local municipalities and fishing cooperatives will be notified in advance to avoid potential disruptions or safety concerns.
Beyond this specific exercise, Japan’s overall defense posture is transforming. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani stated in April that the regional security environment has deteriorated significantly, particularly due to China’s expanding military activity in the East China Sea and increased strategic movements around Taiwan. In response, Tokyo is reassessing its priorities, notably by enhancing its long range counterstrike capabilities. As part of this effort, the government is considering establishing new missile testing ranges on remote territories such as Minamitorishima, an isolated atoll located more than 1,800 kilometers east of Tokyo. This site, marking the easternmost point of Japanese territory, is expected to host live-fire drills involving the Type 12 missile, successor to the Type 88, starting in April 2026.
The Type 12, derived and modernized from the Type 88, follows the same inland-deployment doctrine but includes substantial capability upgrades. Its current version has a range of about 100 kilometers, while a new variant under development aims to extend that range to approximately 1,000 kilometers, turning it into a long range standoff strike system. It has been designated as a key component of Japan’s new active deterrence doctrine. The Ministry of Defense plans to deploy it on at least three bases across the Ryukyu (Nansei) island chain, a strategic archipelago extending close to Taiwan, where regional military tensions are concentrated.
By conducting a long-range missile launch from its own territory for the first time, Japan is taking a significant step in reinforcing its defense autonomy. This decision, driven by evolving security challenges, demonstrates Tokyo’s intent to increase its operational independence while enhancing technological capabilities. It also represents a measured but clear response to the pressure exerted by China in nearby maritime zones. The development of next-generation missiles, expansion of testing infrastructure to outlying islands, and reinforcement of strike capabilities collectively reflect a longer-term strategy aimed at securing Japan’s interests within an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific region.