Japan is advancing its maritime strike capabilities by arming its submarines with newly developed long-range cruise missiles. On October 7, 2025, Japan’s Ministry of Defense awarded mass-production contracts to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for an upgraded ship-launched Type 12 anti-ship missile and a torpedo-tube-launched cruise missile designed for submarine deployment. The submarine-launched missiles will significantly enhance the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s (JMSDF) ability to strike land and maritime targets from a considerable distance, exceeding 620 miles, far surpassing the range of current UGM-84L Harpoon missiles. This new capability is a critical component of Japan’s broader efforts to strengthen standoff defense measures against growing threats from China and North Korea, including ballistic missile and nuclear facilities on the Korean Peninsula. The new missiles are part of Japan’s defense modernization to intercept invading forces early and at long range, supporting a shift toward more proactive regional defense posture. The JMSDF’s submarines, including the advanced Taigei class, will benefit from this enhanced stealthy strike power as Japan accelerates domestic missile production aiming for deployment within this decade. Additionally, Japan is supplementing these efforts with U.S.-supplied Tomahawk cruise missiles for surface warships, underscoring a comprehensive offensive upgrade across naval platforms.