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Japan Advances New Missile Strategy to Counter Regional Threats
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By 2026, Japan plans to deploy Type 12 cruise missiles with a range of 1,200 kilometers and Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectiles (HVGP) capable of hitting targets 500 kilometers away.
Once implemented, these plans will provide Japan with its own long-range missile weaponry. However, beyond the missiles themselves, the country must possess the necessary capabilities to execute precision strikes, according to Defense Express on March 11.
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A recent publication by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) examines whether Japan can use these tools to cover areas like the Russian Far East. Current maps of the projected coverage zones show that these systems primarily protect the Japanese islands.
The reach only slightly extends to the coastline near Vladivostok and Southern Sakhalin, territory Japan lost following World War II in 1945.
Japan is developing this long-range arsenal as part of a "counterstrike strategy" rather than for geopolitical prestige. This concept involves taking active measures during a potential large-scale war in the Pacific region involving China, North Korea, or Russia.
Consequently, the Japan Self-Defense Forces may adjust the deployment of these missiles to better cover specific zones, ranging from the Taiwan Strait to Russian military facilities in the Far East.
Effective strikes require precise targeting, an area where IISS experts believe Japan currently has limited capabilities. The Japan Self-Defense Forces rely on only nine of their own intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) satellites.
To address this shortage, Japanese corporation IHI and Finnish company ICEYE launched a joint project in October 2025. This initiative aims to deploy four synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellites initially, with the potential to expand the constellation to 20.
While the project is set for completion by 2029, the network will also serve partners like the United Kingdom and Australia.
The United States reaffirmed its commitment to the defense of Japan by pledging the use of its full range of military capabilities, including nuclear weapons. This confirmation came during the Extended Deterrence Dialogue held at the State Department in Washington on February 18, 2026.
Senior officials and military representatives from both nations agreed that current American force deployments, combined with Japan’s increasing investment in its own conventional military strength, were essential for preventing regional aggression.
During the talks, the delegations also expressed concerns regarding the expansion of China’s nuclear arsenal and reviewed the progress of North Korea’s missile programs.
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