Recent years Japan began lifting own strict weapons export bans operating since World War II end. Only recently information appeared Philippines is considering purchasing Japanese Type 10 main battle tanks and Type 16 wheeled tanks.
Now information appeared Japan is considering exporting own Type 88 anti-ship missiles to Philippines. Supply is planned from own stockpiles, as these anti-ship missile systems are planned to gradually retire from service in Japan and replace with newer ones. NHK reports this.
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Defense Express adds that if contract for Type 88 ASM sale to Philippines is indeed concluded in future, this will become genuinely significant event, as this will be first anti-ship missile export in Japan's history.
Worth recalling large-scale Balikatan 2026 military exercises recently occurred in Philippines, which became good opportunity for Japan to advertise its weapons to Philippine army. Specifically after them, Filipinos became interested in Type 16 wheeled tanks and Type 88 ASMs.
Moreover, during exercises Japan Self-Defense Forces using Type 88 anti-ship missile sank decommissioned 89-year-old Philippine patrol corvette BRP Quezon (PS-70) with 1,250-ton full displacement approximately 75 km from coast, well demonstrating this system's capabilities.
Even despite Japan already planning to gradually retire Type 88 from service due to obsolescence, for Philippines this will become significant reinforcement. Recently, China threat to Philippines is rapidly growing, while country's Armed Forces are not too strongly armed and evidently not ready to contain Chinese onslaught.
Regarding Type 88 anti-ship missile characteristics, it has high subsonic speed of Mach 0.93 (1,140 km/h), maximum range up to 150-180 km, total mass 661 kg of which 225 kg is high-explosive warhead. For guidance, Type 88 is equipped with inertial system as well as autonomous radar seeker. Recall despite this system deployment back in 1988, Japan only in June 2025 conducted first Type 88 launch at home, immediately at 100 km.
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