Japanese Version Tomahawk 'Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile'

The maximum range of the 12-type land-to-ship missile is known to be 200 km, and the missile launch vehicle carries six missiles. Photo by U.S. Department of Defense

[Military Analyst Kim Daeyoung] Unlike our Army, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) has numerous coastal defense missile units within its artillery branch called "Tokka (特科)." Reflecting the characteristics of an island nation, the JGSDF operates five coastal defense missile regiments within area armies similar to corps-level commands. The latest weapon in these coastal defense missile regiments is the Type 12 coastal defense missile. Initially referred to as the Type 88 Kai (改), an improved version of the Type 88 coastal defense missile, it was renamed Type 12 when deployed starting in 2012.

Generally, coastal defense missiles are used from land near the coast to destroy enemy naval vessels at sea. However, since the Type 88, the JGSDF’s coastal defense missiles have employed guidance methods similar to cruise missiles to attack enemy ships from inland areas. In other words, the missile flies from inland along terrain features to the coast, then activates its radar seeker at sea to engage enemy vessels. The Type 88 can be launched from inland locations up to 100 km away from the coast. The Type 12 added a high-angle launch capability, allowing it to be fired even when cliffs are present in front of the launch site.

The Type 12 coastal defense missile system consists of two search and detection radars, one relay device, command and control equipment, fire control equipment, and missile launch vehicles. Each missile launch vehicle carries six missiles and is organized in units ranging from one to four vehicles. Additionally, ammunition transport vehicles are operated to carry reserve missiles. The maximum range of the Type 12 varies depending on flight profile but is known to reach up to 200 km. Since 2015, the system has incorporated the Link 16 data link used by the U.S. military into its relay devices, enabling attacks using target information received from the Maritime Self-Defense Force, Air Self-Defense Force, and U.S. forces.

The Type 12 coastal defense missiles have been concentrated in the 5th Coastal Defense Missile Regiment under the JGSDF Western Army. Sixteen missile launch vehicles have been deployed, capable of firing up to 96 Type 12 missiles. The JGSDF Western Army is responsible for the defense of Kyushu and Okinawa. In 2018, the Type 12 participated in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), a multinational military exercise, where it conducted live-fire tests as part of the U.S. Army’s multi-domain operations combat experiments.

During that exercise, in a highly electronic warfare-contested environment, four Type 12 coastal defense missiles were launched using target information received from the U.S. Army’s Apache Guardian attack helicopters and MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aerial vehicles, all successfully hitting their targets. Last year, Japan’s Ministry of Defense decided to extend the Type 12’s range to 400 km to enhance countermeasures against the Chinese military. Furthermore, on December 10, it was decided to develop a "stand-off missile," a coastal defense long-range cruise missile, by upgrading the Type 12 over five years to increase its range to 1,000 km.

To this end, a budget of 33.5 billion yen (approximately 348.7 billion KRW) is planned to be included in next year’s budget proposal. A range of 1,000 km would allow Japan to strike North Korea immediately and, depending on the launch location, reach China as well. This effectively elevates the Type 12 coastal defense missile to the level of the U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile.