In its latest annual defense white paper published Friday, the photo of the prototype of the improved Type 12 SSM provides a detailed look at the missile’s shape. It appears like the Storm Shadow/SCALP EG, a Franco-British low-observable, long-range air-launched cruise missile. The Type 12 SSM is designed and built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
The photo caption reads: “The improved Type 12 surface-to-ship missile (prototype) has passed various ground tests.”
The prototype of the improved Type 12 SSM that appears in Tokyo’s 2024 defense white paper is similar to the model used in the wind tunnel test, which was previously published in the 2022 defense white paper. The air intake of both models is located on the underside of the fuselage.
As Naval News previously reported, the Type 12 SSM originally had a range of about 200 km. The new upgraded version aims to extend the range to at least 900 km, and eventually to 1,200 km. The shape of the missile has also been modified to reduce the radar cross section (RCS) and make it stealthy.
In December 2023, Japan’s Defense Minister Minoru Kihara announced that the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) will deploy the land-based upgraded Type 12 SSM starting in its fiscal year FY2025, a year earlier than originally planned. Kihara said:
“This embodies the urgency that our country must quickly acquire practical stand-off defense capabilities.”
Japan’s current stand-off missile capability is mainly focused on the upgraded Type 12 SSM, which is the core of Japan’s counterattack ability. Stand-off missiles allow a military to attack sites such as enemy missile bases from outside the enemy’s range.
With China’s continued military expansion in mind, the Japanese government is rushing to strengthen its capabilities.
The defense ministry has also brought forward the deployment of the U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of over 1,600 km to fiscal 2025, one year earlier than originally planned.
