Japan tests F-2 with upgraded Type 12 missile capable of 1,000 km range
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On July 30, 2026, a Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2 fighter carried out its first flight test with the air-launched variant of the upgraded Type 12 anti-ship missile at Gifu Air Base in central Japan. The missile has an estimated range of up to 1,000 kilometers, greatly exceeding the 200-kilometer range of its predecessor. The test is part of Japan's effort to bolster stand-off defense capabilities amid China's naval expansion.
The Test Flight
On July 30, an F-2 from the Air Development and Test Wing conducted the first observed flight with the air-launched Type 12 at Gifu Air Base. The missile, referred to as the Upgraded Type 12 SSM (ALV), features a low-observable design and satellite-based target-updating capability. The new weapon has a range of up to 1,000 kilometers, five times that of the older Type 93 ASM-2.
Missile Capabilities
The missile's low-observable design reduces radar detection, while UTDC allows target updates after launch. Its 1,000-kilometer range is achieved through larger fuel capacity, wings, and a high-altitude engine. The air-launched variant is derived from the Type 25 surface-to-ship missile, which began operational deployment in 2026.
Strategic Context
The missile will be a core component of Japan's stand-off defense posture, intended to deter invasion by striking from beyond adversary air defenses. Japan plans to deploy upgraded F-2s with the missile at Hyakuri Air Base in fiscal year 2027. The effort responds to China's sustained naval build-up, particularly in the East China Sea.
What's Next
The JASDF is set to begin operational deployment in fiscal year 2027, but it remains unclear how quickly the modified F-2s can be produced and integrated.
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Japan tests F-2 with upgraded Type 12 missile capable of 1,000 km range
