On June 24, the 1st Artillery Brigade of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force conducted a test launch of a Type 88 surface-to-ship anti-ship missile during a military exercise at the Shizunai training ground on the island of Hokkaido.
The target was an unmanned vessel located approximately 40 kilometers off the island’s southern coast. The launch is part of a series of military demonstrations aimed at strengthening Japan’s defensive readiness in response to China’s growing naval presence in the region.
According to Japanese defense officials, the Type 88 missile is considered a key element in the country's deterrence strategy against potential incursions by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) near the Japanese archipelago.
