The Type 12 surface-to-ship missile (12式地対艦誘導弾) is a truck-mounted anti-ship missile developed by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2012. It is an upgrade of the Type 88 surface-to-ship missile. The Type 12 features INS with mid-course GPS guidance and better precision due to enhanced Terrain Contour Matching and target discrimination capabilities. The weapon is networked, where initial and mid-course targeting can be provided by other platforms, and has shorter reload times, reduced lifecycle costs, and a range of .
The missile shares the same Ka-band Active Electronic Scanned Array (AESA) radar seeker with Japanese BVRAAM missile, AAM-4B.Defense Agency Technical Research & Development Institute 50 Years of History, II 技術研究開発 8.第3研究所(II Technology Research and Development 8. Third laboratory) TRDI50_10.pdf file page.278-279 - Japan National Diet Library, 2002
Type 17 ship-to-ship missile, Type 12 Kai and Type 23 air-to-ship missile The ship-launched derivative of Type 12, designated as Type 17 ship-to-ship missile (SSM-2) has been put into service and it is to start deploying from . The range has doubled to 400 kilometers and is also planning to re-apply for the improved version of the surface-to-ship system (Type 12 Kai) and the air-launched variant for the P-1 patrol aircraft. Procurement of the air-launched variant of the missile will begin in FY2025 as the Type 23 air-to-ship missile.防衛力抜本的強化の進捗と予算 令和7年度概算要求の概要. p.29
Type 25 surface-to-ship missile
In December 2020, the MoD approved the development of an improved version of the Type 12 SSM by the Cabinet. According to Japanese newspapers, the range will be extended from 200 km to 900 km, with a future target of 1,500 km. It will have a stealthy shape to reduce Radar Cross Section (RCS), and high mobility to prevent interception from the enemy.
It can attack naval vessels and ground targets. The MoD intends to launch the improved Type 12 SSM from surface launchers, naval vessels and aircraft. Development of the improved Type 12 ground-launched anti-ship missile is expected to finish by fiscal year 2025.
The Ministry of Defense has accelerated its schedule from the original plan, with mass production of the ground-launched variants to begin in FY2023 and deployment to begin in FY2025, and mass production of the naval vessel-launched variants to begin in FY2025.防衛力抜本的強化の進捗と予算 令和7年度概算要求の概要. p.6. Ministry of Defense
On 31 March 2026, the Ministry of Defense announced that the ground-launched system had been designated the and had been deployed at Kengun Base. Its range is reported to be approximately 1,000 kilometers. The ship-launched and air-launched variants are scheduled to be designated and deployed in fiscal year 2027.
Orders Fiscal yearType 12 SSM Notes Composition of a battery (or company):
1 fire control system 1 - 4 launch vehicles(6 missiles per launch vehicles) 1 - 4 ammunition transport vehicles(6 missiles per transport vehicle) 2 radar vehicle 1 communication relay vehicle 1 command and control truckType 12 CompaniesType 12 Launch vehiclesType 12 Radar2026–––2025284 2024–––2023–––2022–––20211422020–––20191422018142201714220161422015–––20144168201314220120.521Total12.55025–
See also Anti-ship missile Type 03 Chū-SAM Type 80 air-to-ship missile Type 88 surface-to-ship missile Type 90 ship-to-ship missile Type 93 air-to-ship missile ASM-3
References