Japan's ATLA Completes Development of Land-Based Improved Type 12 Surface to Ship Missile
On December 19, Japan's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) announced the completion of the land-based variant of the Improved Type 12 Surface to Ship Missile. Due to limitations in local weapon ranges, live firing tests for this 1000km range missile were conducted overseas, specifically at the Point Mugu Sea Range in Southern California from October 8 to November 27.
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force plans to equip the 5th Surface-to-Ship Missile Regiment in Kumamoto Prefecture with operational rounds in 2026, followed by regiments in Oita and Okinawa Prefectures. Additionally, the Air Self-Defense Force will deploy air-launched Improved Type 12 missiles on Mitsubishi F-2s by FY2027, and the JS Teruzuki destroyer will receive the sea-based variant in the same fiscal year. The JS Chokai destroyer will integrate the US Tomahawk missile next year, with live tests scheduled for summer at Point Mugu.
