Japan moves long-range missiles to Kyushu for massive US-Japan drill
Around 45,000 Japanese Self-Defense Forces members and 12,000 U.S. troops will practice with Type 25 surface-to-ship missiles in Kyushu during the Keen Sword exercise, which runs until Oct 29.
The Keen Sword exercise, scheduled to continue through Oct 29, involves roughly 45,000 personnel from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and 12,000 U.S. troops, making it one of the largest bilateral drills to date. For the first time, the long-range Type 25 surface-to-ship guided missile will be positioned at a training site in southern Kyushu, beyond its usual garrison in Kumamoto, and can strike targets up to 1,000 km away, including areas close to Taiwan.
While launch procedures will be rehearsed, the Joint Staff confirmed there will be no live-fire testing. The U.S. Marine Corps is set to deploy the NMESIS unmanned missile system and the MADIS integrated air-defence system in Okinawa. Hiroaki Uchikura, head of the Joint Staff, emphasized the need for rapid, flexible force deployment given the southwestern region’s geography and the heightened sense of crisis. The drill follows Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s November hint that Japan could intervene militarily if Taiwan were attacked, a stance that has strained ties with Beijing.
Why it matters
The exercise showcases Japan’s expanding missile capability and signals heightened security concerns over Taiwan and regional stability.
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