Photographs from Gifu Air Base show F-2B prototype 63-8101 carrying the new Air-Launched Type 25 anti-ship missile during the programme’s first publicly observed captive-carry flight tests. The designation for the air-launched missile is yet to be announced, so it is referred to as the air-launched variant of the Type 25 SSM within this article. The standoff weapon’s lineage can be traced to the upgraded Type 12 SSM (12式地対艦誘導弾能力向上型, translated literally as Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Guided Munition Upgraded Capability Version) programme, which has since been redesignated to the Type 25 SSM (25式地対艦誘導弾, translated literally as Type 25 Surface-to-Ship Guided Munition). The upgraded Type 12 SSM bears little to no resemblance to the original Type 12 SSM, which is largely based on the air-launched ASM-2 currently in service with the JASDF. A closeup of the air-launched upgraded Type 25 SSM on the left wing of the F-2B prototype on takeoff.