Japanese Navy to be armed with Type 23 long-range anti-aircraft missiles

26 January, 2025 Test launch of a Type 23 anti-aircraft missile from the test ship JS Asuka. Photo: ATLA The Ministry of Defense of Japan has allocated funding to purchase domestic Type 23 long-range anti-aircraft missiles.

This information was published in the budget document of the Ministry of Defense of Japan for 2025. The allocated funding of £245.25 million will be used to purchase missiles as part of the first production batches with further expansion of orders in the future. Currently, Type 23 missiles are being procured for use on Mogami frigates, as well as other ships such as Akizuki, Asahi, and Takanami destroyers and future Advanced Mogami project frigates.

Budget document allocating funding for the purchase of missiles.

Photo: MoD JP

In addition to allocating funding for 2025, the Ministry of Defense also funded the £167.25 million purchase of this type of missile in 2024, which was the first year of funding for the purchase of serial missiles. The Type 23 missile is based on the land-based version of the missile used on the modernized Type 03 Kai systems. To reduce financial and technical risks, the naval version of the missile uses the upper stage from the Type 07 anti-submarine missile.

This approach made it possible to unify many components, reduce the time spent on research and development, and reduce the product's price. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces position the Type 23 as a long-range anti-aircraft missile with a maximum range of 100-120 km. The missile guidance system consists of an inertial system, a flight correction system, and an active radar homing head.

ATLA representatives near a model of the Type 23 missile.

Photo: ATLA

Along with the purchase of missiles, the Japanese Ministry of Defense allocated initial funding in 2023 to develop an improved version of the missile to intercept ballistic and hypersonic missiles. According to the plan, the new missile development should take place between 2024 and 2030. The new missile may be developed jointly with the Army, which also seeks to improve the missile from the Type 03 Kai and add the ability to intercept hypersonic targets.

Militarnyi previously reported that the Japanese Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to supply parts for a hypersonic missile interceptor.

The joint development agreement was signed in May 2024 and will have a development budget of more than £3 billion.

The Japanese government has already included JPY 75 billion (£480 million) in its 2024 budget for developing the new missile.