In Japan, flight testing began for newest Type 12 SSM-2 anti-ship missile (separate Type 25 index also already appears) from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in aviation version.
New missile version was spotted on F-2 fighter near Gifu airbase. This aircraft belongs to special Japanese Air Force unit responsible for weapons testing. Quality photos of this event were made by Japanese spotter with nickname 306Z33, which Naval News publication noted.
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Defense Express notes conducting these tests was quite expected. Because announced Type 12 SSM-2 development timeline for aircraft is through end of 2027. At the same time, its variant for launch from ground launcher should enter service this year.
Type 12 SSM-2 flight range is estimated at 1,000 km, at the same time its further modernizations should increase this parameter to 1,500 km. But air version, thanks to high-altitude launch, should have even greater range, to which carrier's own combat radius should also be added. In case of F-2 it is estimated at approximately 830 km, but aircraft has air refueling system.
In practice this means that thanks to F-2 with Type 12 SSM-2, keeping entire eastern China coast in crosshairs becomes possible. At the same time, worth noting that for modern anti-ship missiles, capability to engage ground targets has long been base requirement.
Worth adding that so far Type 12 SSM-2 parameters, as well as individual technical solutions, are not disclosed. Specifically unknown are warhead weight, terminal section guidance system and so on. But this involves genuinely modern low-observable cruise missile, which is result of lengthy evolution and grew from Neptune analog, as it takes its roots from ASM-1, which entered service in 1980.
Also worth noting missile carrier is specifically F-2 from Mitsubishi, which is not F-16 variant but separate aircraft based on it. Japan for its creation agreed to draconian U.S. conditions, but it outpaced by years not only F-16 but in electronics even F-22.
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