Japanese forces will fire their most advanced anti-ship missile into Australian waters for the first time, ahead of large-scale multinational military exercises that begin later this week.
The Japan’s Self Defense Force (JSDF) is preparing to soon conduct a live fire demonstration of its Type 12 Surface-to-Ship missile (SSM) at a weapons range in Jervis Bay, south of Sydney.
Friday’s activity will occur on the same day Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 is formally opened in Sydney, which will this year see South Korea also showcase its much-lauded Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system.
Chief of staff for Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force, General Morishita Yasunori, has told the ABC his country’s participation in the biennial military exercise is expanding.
“Exercise Talisman Sabre is important because it strengthens cooperation with Australia and the US, which will help maintain and strengthen a free and open Indo-Pacific,” General Yasunori said in a statement.
“I believe the SSM firing exercise in conjunction with the Australian Navy will enhance a high level of trust between Australia and Japan.”
The Type 12 Surface-to-Ship missile is a truck-mounted weapon developed by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2012 which has a range of around 200 kilometres.
Japan has begun working to induct an upgraded ship-launched variant of the Type 12 SSM by 2026, which will boast an extended range of between 200km and 1,000km.
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