Article

Japan's Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) has released video showcasing its New Surface-To-Ship Missile (New SSM) executing high-G terminal maneuvers, including deliberate barrel rolls. This design allows the missile to confuse fire-control radars of shipborne air defense systems, enhancing its effectiveness against close-in weapon systems.

The New SSM operates at subsonic speeds and significantly outranges the current Type 12 missile, with a range exceeding 200 km, enabling the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) to engage threats from a safe distance. Developed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) and powered by the XKJ301-1 turbofan engine, the missile represents the start of a modular family of weapons that could include variants for supersonic speeds and air-launch configurations. Development began in 2023, in response to maritime militarization in the East and South China Seas, and deployment is anticipated in the mid-2020s.