Japan To Develop For The First Time Air-To-Ship Long-Range Cruise Missile

The Yomiuri Shimbun

SCMP/Kyodo: Japan to develop air-to-ship long-range cruise missiles to deter China’s navy, source says

* Military source said aim is to extend Tokyo’s shooting range to more than 400km as China improves its naval capabilities

Japan has decided to develop for the first time air-to-ship long-range cruise missiles to be carried by fighter jets and capable of attacking a warship from outside the range of an enemy’s weapons, government sources said on Sunday.

The plan is aimed at boosting Japan’s deterrence by extending the shooting range to more than 400km as China has been improving its naval capabilities, the sources said.

The forthcoming development will be based on Japan’s supersonic XASM-3 air-to-ship missiles, which are said to have a range of not more than 200km, they said.

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Update #1: Defense Ministry to develop long-range standoff missile (Japan News/The Yomiuri Shimbun)
Update #2: Japan Developing Missile to Strike Enemy Outside Air Defences' Reach – Report (Sputnik)

WNU Editor: Japan wants a better deterrence against China.