Japan Fires Type 88 in Historic Balikatan Maritime Drill in the Philippines

During Balikatan 2026 in the Philippines, Japan fired two Type 88 anti-ship missiles from a 6×6 JGSDF launcher at a decommissioned BRP Quezon, sinking the target about six minutes later at roughly 75 km. The live-fire was part of a multinational drill involving about 17,000 troops and marked the first participation of Japanese combat troops on Philippine soil since WWII. USMC NMESIS was present (but did not fire), and an American HIMARS had previously engaged the target. The exercise underscored growing defense cooperation as Japan plans to replace the Type 88 with the Type 12; the Type 88 range is 180 km and carries a 225 kg warhead.