Japan upgrades F-2 fighter jet to launch modified Type 12 anti-ship missiles

Japan's Ministry of Defence has requested funding to finance the upgrade of the F-2 fighter-bomber. The upgrade will allow the aircraft to be armed with the Type 12 missile.

Here's What We Know

Type 12 is a land-based anti-ship cruise missile. The current version has a launch range of 200 kilometres, but Japanese specialists are working on increasing the kill radius first to 1,200 kilometres, and in the long term - to 1,500 kilometres.

Two years ago it became known that Japan will create a modification of the Type 12 airborne. The carrier will be a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries F-2 fighter-bomber, rather than the modernised F-15J Eagle.

The ground-based, extended-range version of the Type 12 will be in service in three years, and ships will be armed a year later. If everything goes according to plan, the Japanese forces will begin equipping aircraft with the new missile only in 2029, and in the next decade the Type 12 will appear on submarines.

In conclusion, Japan is also creating its own analogue of the US Rapid Dragon system. The US Air Force wants to drop JASSM-ER missiles from MC-130J Commando II military transport aircraft. The military of the Land of the Rising Sun is considering dropping JASSM-ER and Type 12 from Kawasaki C-2s. The project received $25 million this year.

Source: Defence News