Fact Check: Type 12 missiles will have a range of 1,000 kilometers, ten times Type 88's range.

Fact Check: "Type 12 missiles will have a range of 1,000 kilometers, ten times Type 88's range."

What We Know

The Type 12 surface-to-ship missile, developed by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, is an upgrade of the earlier Type 88 missile. The current operational range of the Type 12 missile is approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles) (Wikipedia). However, there are plans for an improved version of the Type 12 missile, which is expected to have an extended range of up to 900 kilometers, with future aspirations to reach 1,500 kilometers (Wikipedia).

The Type 88 missile, which the Type 12 upgrades, has a range of about 100 kilometers (Wikipedia). Therefore, the claim that the Type 12 missile will have a range of 1,000 kilometers is based on future projections rather than current capabilities.

Analysis

The assertion that the Type 12 missile will have a range of 1,000 kilometers is partially true. While it is accurate that future versions of the Type 12 are being developed with the goal of achieving this range, the current operational version does not meet this specification. As of now, the Type 12 missile has a confirmed range of 200 kilometers, which is indeed ten times the range of the Type 88 missile (Wikipedia, Wikipedia).

Moreover, the reliability of the sources varies. The information about the current capabilities of the Type 12 missile comes from well-established military and defense sources like Wikipedia and GlobalSecurity.org, which are generally reliable for technical specifications. However, the projections for future capabilities, such as the 1,000 kilometers range, are based on plans and aspirations rather than confirmed tests or operational status (GlobalSecurity, Nikkei).

The claim that the Type 12 missile will have a range of 1,000 kilometers is supported by reports from credible sources like Nikkei, which discusses Japan's plans to extend the range of its missiles (Nikkei). However, these reports should be viewed with caution as they reflect future intentions rather than current realities.

Conclusion

The claim that "Type 12 missiles will have a range of 1,000 kilometers, ten times Type 88's range" is partially true. While it is accurate that the Type 12 missile is expected to achieve a range of 1,000 kilometers in future iterations, the current version has a maximum range of 200 kilometers, which is indeed ten times that of the Type 88 missile. Therefore, the statement is misleading if interpreted to mean that the current Type 12 missile already possesses this capability.

Sources

1. Type 12 surface-to-ship missile - Wikipedia
2. Type 12 surface-to-ship missile - Wikipedia
3. List of anti-ship missiles - Wikipedia
4. Japan test fired new type 12 anti-ship missile with 1000km range
5. Japan conducts first missile test on its own territory as part ...
6. Type 12 Surface to Ship Missile - GlobalSecurity.org