Japan showcased the evasive abilities of its new anti-ship cruise missile during its latest launch test.

Japan’s Ministry of Defence has recently released video footage showing its new long-range anti-ship cruise missile-provisionally referred to as the “New SSM” or island defense missile-carrying out evasive manoeuvres during flight testing. In the images, the missile can be seen performing barrel rolls in the terminal phase, following a flight profile intended to make interception by naval defensive systems more difficult.

The footage forms part of a video published by the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) within the Japanese Ministry of Defence. Although the clips were previously shown at ATLA’s Defence Technology Symposium last year, this is the first time they have been made widely available. Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) is acting as the programme’s prime contractor. Development has been under way since 2023, reflecting Tokyo’s concerns about the regional security environment.

General characteristics of Japan’s “New SSM” (island defense missile)

The New SSM is an improved iteration of the Type 12 anti-ship missile, which was originally designed for launch from mobile ground-based systems. In its current configuration, the missile is subsonic and powered by an XKJ301-1 turbofan engine derived from KHI’s KJ300 design, developed for both cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. This twin-spool engine prioritises fuel efficiency, which translates into greater operational range.

While Japanese authorities have not officially confirmed the New SSM’s maximum range, they have stated that it will exceed that of the Type 12. The baseline Type 12 has an approximate range of 200 kilometres, while later variants doubled that distance. In addition, a Type 12 version with an estimated range of 900 to 1,000 kilometres is currently under development-suggesting that the New SSM could surpass those figures.

In terms of airframe design, the missile features folding main wings, twin vertical stabilisers, and horizontal stabilisers at the rear. Initial launch is achieved using a booster rocket, which separates once the required speed is reached; the turbofan then takes over. The design anticipates launches from land and naval platforms, as well as future airborne integration on aircraft such as the Mitsubishi F-2 fighter and the Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft.

The New SSM also includes multiple features intended to reduce its radar signature, including faceted lines, serrated edges, and an S-shaped air intake commonly associated with stealth designs. For guidance, it uses an inertial navigation system assisted by GPS (INS) during the cruise phase, while in the terminal phase it employs a dual-mode seeker combining imaging infrared (IIR) and radio frequency (RF).

According to earlier explanations from ATLA, this pairing improves the probability of a hit and reduces vulnerability to electronic interference, while also making it easier to employ the missile in complex littoral environments. A modular nose design would allow different types of sensors, warheads, or other capabilities to be integrated in the future.

One of the New SSM’s highlighted aspects is its in-flight manoeuvrability, both en route to the target and during the final approach. The spiral manoeuvres observed during tests are intended to evade short-range shipboard defensive systems, especially those based on high-rate automatic cannons. Official Japanese graphics have previously depicted this kind of flight path in simulated scenarios.

ATLA has previously indicated that these capabilities are meant to lower the probability of interception; however, no public data have yet been released on the concrete effectiveness of these manoeuvres in operational conditions.

Japanese officials have also noted that the New SSM could act as a baseline platform for a family of modular systems. Options under consideration include land-attack variants, versions with non-kinetic functions, dedicated decoys, or even configurations offering surveillance and persistence while retaining the ability to strike detected targets.

This flexibility would make it possible to incorporate new technologies over time, broadening the system’s mission set and easing adaptation to different operational scenarios.

Strategic context and timeline

The New SSM’s development sits within a wider effort to modernise Japan’s stand-off strike capabilities, complementing other ongoing programmes. In that context, the Ministry of Defence has identified 2027 as the target year to begin series production and operational deployment of the missile.

The current flight trials-including the evasive manoeuvres shown in ATLA’s released material-represent a key step within that schedule and indicate that the programme is progressing towards its next validation stages.

Images for illustrative purposes only.

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