Test firing of domestically produced Japanese long-range Type 12 surface-to-ship guided missile

Japan is exploring the possibility of using Indian test facilities and firing ranges for live-fire training involving long-range surface-to-ship missiles and small attack drones, a move that could add a significant new dimension to India-Japan defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

The development comes as Tokyo seeks solutions to a growing challenge created by its rapidly expanding arsenal of stand-off weapons, particularly new missile systems capable of striking targets at far greater distances than previous generations.

Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (GSDF) Chief of Staff General Arai Masayoshi confirmed on October 27 that Japanese personnel had been dispatched to India to coordinate discussions related to potential training opportunities.

“It is true that we dispatched personnel to coordinate various matters with India,” Arai said during a press conference.

His remarks followed reports that Japanese Defence Ministry officials travelled to India in mid-October and spent approximately a week inspecting test facilities and firing ranges that could potentially support future training activities.

No decision has yet been taken regarding live-fire exercises in India, and Tokyo has not selected any specific missile system for a prospective deployment. The discussions remain exploratory. However, the talks reflect a broader challenge facing Japan's military as it fields increasingly long-range weapons.

“When operating relatively long-range missiles, such as surface-to-ship missiles, how to conduct training that makes use of their range is a major challenge,” Arai stated.

He added that the GSDF is examining both domestic and overseas options to secure suitable training environments.

The issue has become particularly important following the deployment of the Type 25 surface-to-ship guided missile, one of Japan's most significant new stand-off strike capabilities.

The Type-25 entered service at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto Prefecture in March 2026. The missile is widely believed to have a range of roughly 1,000 kilometres, representing a major increase over the approximately 200-kilometre range of the earlier Type 12 missile.

The system forms a key element of Japan's evolving counter-strike and stand-off deterrence strategy, which aims to strengthen the country's ability to respond to regional security threats and growing maritime challenges.

During the Japan-US Keen Sword 27 exercise, held from October 19 to 29, the GSDF publicly demonstrated the Type-25 system at a training area covering parts of Nagasaki and Saga prefectures.

Troops showcased deployment procedures involving a mobile launcher and preparations for a launch. However, no missile was fired during the demonstration.

While such drills allow personnel to practise operating the system, conducting live-fire exercises at ranges approaching 1,000 kilometres presents far more complex requirements involving airspace management, maritime safety zones, range clearance and coordination with multiple authorities.

Japanese officials have not indicated that the Type-25 would necessarily be the missile used in any future Indian training activity. Japan has previously conducted surface-to-ship missile firing exercises overseas, including in the United States and Australia.

During the 2026 Balikatan exercise, jointly conducted by the Philippines and the United States, the GSDF carried out its first-ever missile firing activity in the Philippines using the Type-88 surface-to-ship missile.

The growing need for large training areas has prompted Tokyo to consider a wider range of international training partners.

India's extensive missile-testing infrastructure, large instrumented ranges and growing strategic partnership with Japan make it a potentially attractive option. The discussions also come against the backdrop of steadily expanding security cooperation between New Delhi and Tokyo.

The two countries already conduct bilateral military exercises and work closely with the United States and Australia through the Quad framework. Concerns over Chinese maritime activity and broader Indo-Pacific security developments have brought the partners closer together in recent years.

Arai emphasised India's importance to Japan's regional security strategy.

“India is an important partner in the Indo-Pacific region, and we recognize the importance of promoting various forms of defence cooperation and exchanges amid an increasingly severe and complex security environment,” he said.

Despite the broader strategic backdrop, Japanese officials stressed that the current discussions concern possible bilateral arrangements and are not linked to any announced Quad military exercise.

The GSDF is also examining the possibility of conducting training involving small attack drones in India. Asked about such activities, Arai confirmed that drone-related training options formed part of the ongoing discussions. He noted that several issues would need to be addressed, including radio-frequency allocation, operational concepts, training content, suitable locations and safety procedures.

According to Arai, the planning process must reflect how and where the GSDF expects to employ such systems operationally.

Japan is therefore assessing both domestic and overseas training solutions simultaneously.

The GSDF chief said no decision had been made regarding whether overseas training would take place before domestic exercises or in parallel with them. He also noted that any live-fire activity conducted inside Japan would require extensive coordination with local governments and other authorities to ensure compliance with safety requirements.

Recent military exchanges underline the deepening relationship between the two countries. Earlier this month, a 34-member GSDF Command and General Staff Course delegation visited India, holding discussions with the Indian Army and the Defence Research and Development Organisation, while also engaging with leading military research and war-gaming institutions.

For now, no location, timetable or formal agreement has been announced.

Nevertheless, the discussions underscore a significant reality confronting Japan's military modernisation efforts. As the range and capability of Japanese missile systems continue to expand, securing suitable locations for realistic training is emerging as both an operational requirement and a matter of strategic diplomacy.

As Tokyo develops weapons able to strike targets hundreds of kilometres away, cooperation with trusted partners such as India may increasingly become an essential part of ensuring those capabilities can be employed effectively in a future crisis.

Agencies