Japan has received launchers for the first group of its Type 12 long-range surface-to-ship missiles at a military facility in the country’s southwest, signaling that deployment preparations are underway.
The enhanced, domestically developed missile system will be positioned at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto Prefecture, located on the island of Kyushu, by the end of March, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara. The location provides strategic coverage over the East China Sea and areas near the Korean Peninsula, strengthening Japan’s ability to conduct stand-off strikes against naval vessels and land targets.
The move has sparked criticism from local leaders and residents, who said they were not formally notified of the deployment and instead learned about it through media coverage. Protesters gathered near the base warned that hosting the missiles could turn the region into a potential target in the event of a military confrontation between Japan and China, particularly over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own and has threatened to reunify by force.
Tensions in the region have already been heightened after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicated in November that Japan might respond militarily if Taiwan were attacked.
In addition, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stated in February that Tokyo intends to deploy surface-to-air missile systems on Yonaguni Island, approximately 110 kilometers east of Taiwan, with the deployment expected by March 2031.
Built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the Type 12 missile originally offered a range of about 200 kilometers but has undergone upgrades since 2022 to extend its reach to roughly 1,000 kilometers.
The system is mounted on an eight-wheeled mobile launcher, with each vehicle carrying six missiles weighing about 680 kilograms. After deployment at Camp Kengun, the next batch of upgraded Type 12 missiles is planned for stationing at Camp Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture in western Tokyo by late 2026.
