Japanese F-2 Fighter Appears With New Large Stealth Cruise Missile Under Its Wings

A Mitsubishi F-2 carrying ASM-2 anti-ship missiles under the wings. The legacy Type 12 anti-ship missile, as used by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. At this point, we don’t know the status of the new air-launched missile. The F-2 is also being used to test an improved version of the ASM-3 high-speed anti-ship missile, the ASM-3 Kai. An air-launched Type 25 would fit well into Japan’s broader shift toward long-range ‘counterstrike’ capabilities, and add another string to the bow of the F-2.