The Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) has brought launchers and other equipment related to sophisticated long-range missiles into its Camp Kengun in the city of Kumamoto in preparation for their deployment, informed sources said Monday.
The Defense Ministry has announced that the upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship guided missile system, Japan＊s first, will be deployed at the camp this month. The missile system will be a key component of Japan＊s counterstrike capabilities and be able to target enemy bases.
According to the sources, vehicles carrying the missile equipment departed from the GSDF＊s Camp Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture on Saturday and arrived at Camp Kengun in the small hours of Monday.
The improved Type-12 missiles can fly some 1,000 kilometers and are known as stand-off missiles, which are capable of attacking from outside the range of enemy fire or air defenses.
The ministry is speeding up work to build counterstrike capabilities amid the rapidly deteriorating security environment surrounding Japan, such as China＊s increasing military activities.
Meanwhile, the local communities that will host missile systems are increasingly wary of the risk of becoming a potential target of foreign attacks.
※It is very regrettable that the ministry did not give us a prior explanation about the missile equipment transportation (to Camp Kengun) and that we came to know the matter from news reports,§ Kumamoto Mayor Kazufumi Onishi has said in a statement while showing some understanding for the planned deployment.
The ministry also plans to deploy the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile surface-to-surface missile system for the defense of remote islands, also part of the counterstrike capabilities initiative, to Camp Fuji this month.
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