Japan's Type 88 missile drills near Kuril Islands provoke Kremlin
Japan plans its first-ever exercises using Type 88 missiles near the Kuril Islands, with which it remains formally at war with Russia. The announcements have caused significant discontent in the Kremlin.
According to the Army Recognition portal, at the end of May 2025, Japanese media reported on the plans of the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF) to conduct its first-ever exercises using Type 88 missiles from land.
The exercises will take place near the disputed Kuril Islands, occupied by Russia since the end of World War II. Both countries have not signed a peace treaty and formally remain at war.
Military exercises on Hokkaido under Russia's nose
The Japanese military exercises involving the Type 88 missile system are planned at the Shizunai training ground in Shinhidaka on the island of Hokkaido. This event marks a breakthrough in Japan's training doctrine and has already prompted a sharp reaction from Russia due to the proximity of the exercise location to disputed territories.
The Shizunai training ground, covering 1,255 square kilometres of restricted airspace, offers favourable conditions for conducting missile launches. The exercises are scheduled between 24 June and 29 June, with plans to launch one missile on two selected days. About 300 soldiers from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd missile regiments will participate in the manoeuvres.
The exercises reflect Japan's desire to normalise local missile training, allowing for more frequent and cost-effective manoeuvres. Long-term plans include expanding the national training infrastructure, including the construction of a new missile range on Minami-Torishima island in the Ogasawara chain, expected to be ready in the fiscal year 2026.
At the centre of the exercises is the Type 88 missile system, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and introduced into service in the late '80s. This truck-mounted system is a key component of Japan's coastal defence strategy, enabling precise attacks on maritime targets at a range of approximately 180 kilometres.
Kremlin's strong opposition
The proximity of the exercise location to disputed territories with Russia has sparked strong diplomatic reactions from Moscow. The exercises aim not only to improve tactical skills but also to enhance Japan's capability to conduct land-sea operations under realistic combat conditions.
This event on Japanese soil represents an important step in the evolution of Japan's defensive posture, signalling a desire to strengthen deterrence and operational autonomy. These actions could have broad strategic implications, affecting security in the Indo-Pacific region.
Type 88 missiles - the main anti-ship defence measure of the Japan Self-Defence Forces
The land-launched version of the Type 88 missile uses a turbojet engine and a rocket booster, which simply falls away after a few seconds of operation. The missile is launched from an eight-wheeled launcher carrying a payload of six missiles.
Like most competitors, the Japanese Type 88 missile travels at a speed of 0.9 Mach (about 307 metres per second) just above the water surface, at an altitude of 5-6 metres. Meanwhile, the missile's targeting is managed by an inertial navigation module and a radar homing head, which operates in the final phase of flight, precisely guiding the missile with a 225-kilogram penetrating warhead onto the enemy ship.
