Japan's Self-Defense Forces fired anti-ship missiles for the first time during joint exercises with the Philippines. The target, a simulated enemy ship, was hit 75 kilometers off the coast of Paoay in Ilocos Norte. This military milestone strengthens the bilateral alliance in a context of growing regional tensions, improving interoperability and response capability against maritime threats in the South China Sea.
Type 12 Missiles: Japanese precision in Philippine waters 🚀
The missiles used were the Type 12, a ground-attack system with anti-ship capability developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. With an operational range of up to 200 kilometers and guided by inertial navigation and GPS, these missiles can fly at low altitude to evade radars. The exercise allowed testing their integration with Philippine command systems, demonstrating that Japanese technology can operate from foreign bases without significant technical setbacks.
They also proved the ghost ship didn't complain 😂
The funniest part of the exercise is that the simulated ship, surely an inflatable boat with a painted flag, did not file a formal complaint with the UN. While the missiles flew, local fishermen probably thought it was a new fireworks record. Anyway, for being the first joint firing, at least they didn't miss and hit the target. Now all that's left is for Japan to teach the Philippines how to make sushi on deck.