Japan's Largest Live-Fire Exercise Shows Long-Range Missile System for First Time
Beijing time: 2026-06-08 00:50
Japan's annual largest live-fire military exercise was held on Sunday (June 7) at a training ground near Mount Fuji. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi personally inspected the event. The first public display of the latest long-range "Type 25 High-Speed Gliding Missile" launcher became the focus of attention.
The Ground Self-Defense Force helicopters first conducted air assault drills, with soldiers fast-roping down. Amphibious assault vehicles, mortars, and Type 16 maneuver combat vehicles fired in succession, with explosions echoing.
This year's exercise involved about 3,000 soldiers, 50 vehicles, and 50 artillery pieces, using nearly 70 tons of ammunition throughout the day.
Affected by recent international conflicts, the Self-Defense Force also added an anti-drone component, using automatic aiming rifles to shoot down incoming targets; mine-clearing vehicles fired demolition rounds, and remote-controlled quadruped vehicles "crossed obstacles."
The most eye-catching was the first public appearance of the "Type 25 Hypersonic Gliding Missile" launch vehicle, deployed in March of this year, with a range of several hundred kilometers and the ability to fly on irregular trajectories, positioned by Japan's Ministry of Defense as core equipment for "remote island defense." However, no live firing was conducted during the exercise.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi personally inspected the event. Japan revised its arms export regulations in April this year, and observers believe that this exercise display also symbolizes ongoing adjustments in Japan's military policy.
Reported by NTD Television reporters Xu Zhe and Shu Can
Article URL: https://www.ntdtv.com/b5/2026/06/07/a104103721.html
