Deployment of Long-Range Missiles: Ensure Effectiveness of Counterattack Capabilities

Editorial

14:00 JST, April 6, 2026

China and North Korea are continuously enhancing their missile capabilities. The security environment surrounding Japan only continues to worsen.

To firmly protect the lives and livelihoods of the Japanese people, it is crucial not only to rely on the tactic of missile interception but also to possess the counterattack capability to neutralize enemy bases.

The Ground Self-Defense Force has deployed domestically produced standoff missiles, which are capable of attacking from outside the enemy’s range, at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto Prefecture and Camp Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture. This marks the first time the Self-Defense Forces have possessed such counterattack capabilities.

In Kumamoto Prefecture, surface-to-ship guided missiles with a range of over 1,000 kilometers have been deployed. With the deployment of these guided missiles, Japan has become able to attack launch sites if North Korea fires ballistic missiles or other weapons targeting Japan.

Meanwhile, the key feature of the hyper velocity gliding projectiles deployed in Shizuoka Prefecture is their ability to fly at high altitudes with high speed, making them difficult to intercept. Their range is said to be several hundred kilometers. The plan is to utilize them primarily for the defense of remote islands.

In recent years, North Korea has repeatedly test-fired hypersonic missiles that fly on irregular trajectories, making them difficult to intercept. China is also believed to possess 2,000 medium-range missiles capable of reaching Japan.

The deployment of long-range missiles is also expected to have a deterrent effect, convincing North Korea and China that any attack on Japan will be met with a counterattack.

The Defense Ministry plans to deploy long-range missiles in Hokkaido and Miyazaki Prefecture in the future. Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers and Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets will carry such missiles.

However, to actually exercise these counterattack capabilities, it is necessary to have detection capabilities to pinpoint the enemy locations. Yet, the Self-Defense Forces do not currently possess such capabilities. Even if they rely on U.S. military satellite intelligence for the time being, they must deploy their own systems to track targets.

Japan also plans to purchase U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles to bolster its counterattack capabilities. However, the United States has used a large number of Tomahawks in its attacks on Iran. It is unclear whether the United States has the leeway to supply them to Japan.

Mass production of domestically developed missiles is an urgent priority from the viewpoint of enhancing the ability to sustain combat. The counterattack capabilities have to be effective.

In addition, as part of efforts to strengthen its rapid response capabilities, the Maritime Self-Defense Force reorganized last month. The MSDF designated Yokosuka, Kure and Maizuru bases as hub installations and stationed flagship vessels such as the Izumo at these bases to make them key facilities.

The aim of this hub strategy is to ensure that personnel are available to carry out missions such as missile defense even in the wake of manpower shortages. It is also important to increase the number of vessels that can be operated by small crews.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 6, 2026)