Exclusive Report: Japan conducts first live-fire test of Type 88 anti ship missile on home territory.

According to information published by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force on June 25, 2025, Japan successfully conducted its first-ever live-fire test of the Type 88 surface-to-ship missile on its own territory. The firing took place a day earlier, on June 24, at the Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range in Hokkaido and involved around 300 personnel from the JGSDF 1st Artillery Brigade. A training missile was launched from a land-based platform and accurately struck an unmanned target vessel located approximately 40 kilometers offshore, demonstrating the system’s high-precision engagement capability.
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The Type 88 is a Japanese truck-mounted surface-to-ship missile system designed to defend coastal areas by engaging enemy warships with high-precision long-range strikes. (Picture source: Wikimedia)

The Type 88 Surface-to-Ship Missile, or SSM-1, is a land-based coastal defense weapon system developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Mounted on a 6x6 military truck, it features a solid-propellant booster and a turbojet-powered cruise stage, with a strike range of up to 180 kilometers. Guidance is achieved through inertial navigation and active radar homing in the terminal phase, enabling sea-skimming flight profiles that minimize radar detection. As the main anti-ship defense platform for Japan’s coastal artillery units, the Type 88 plays a critical role in deterring maritime threats in contested waters.

This test represents a landmark moment in Japanese defense policy, marking the first time such a live-fire test was conducted domestically. Previously, Japan relied on overseas ranges in the United States and Australia for such activities due to geographic and legal constraints. The successful test reflects Tokyo’s strategic shift toward a more autonomous and proactive defense posture in response to escalating military activities by China and Russia in nearby seas. It also signals Japan’s growing willingness to operate and demonstrate force within its own territory as part of broader deterrence measures.

This event is a key step in implementing Japan’s 2022 National Defense Strategy, which moves beyond traditional self-defense and promotes stronger deterrence through the acquisition of long-range strike capabilities. Japan is preparing to field American-made Tomahawk cruise missiles from late 2025 and is also developing an extended-range version of the Type 12 surface-to-ship missile. A new live-fire testing facility is planned for Minamitorishima Island in the Pacific to support these efforts.

Army Recognition editorial team provides more details about this landmark event in our daily video coverage embedded in this article. The video features exclusive footage of the live-fire sequence, deployment procedures, and missile engagement captured directly at the test site in Hokkaido. Through expert commentary and on-site analysis, our coverage highlights the strategic importance of the Type 88 missile system and Japan’s evolving defense capabilities amid rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. This content delivers unique insights for our global audience and reinforces Army Recognition’s role as a leading source of international defense news.