Japan Orders 62 Surface Surveillance Radars

Japan’s Ministry of Defense has ordered 62 JTPS-4 radar systems to enhance surface surveillance capabilities.

The Ministry’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) announced this.

The radars will be used to detect surface targets independently and in coordination with new anti-ship missile systems. The total contract value is approximately $4.5 million.

The contract was awarded to Koden Electronics, the manufacturer of the JTPS-4 radar.

This purchase is part of Japan’s ongoing modernization of its anti-submarine forces. The radars are intended to strengthen maritime situational awareness by detecting boats, surfaced submarines, and other vessels.

In addition to standalone use, the radars will support the Ground Self-Defense Forces’ broader anti-submarine network. They will enable missile systems to receive targeting data from external sources rather than relying solely on their own radars.

Japan recently completed a key testing phase for its new domestic long-range anti-ship missile, with an estimated range of 1,200 to 1,500 kilometers.

Militarnyi previously reported that the Ministry of Defense and the Ground Self-Defense Forces also tested the 12SSM-ER cruise missile, which has a range of roughly 1,500 kilometers.

The test launches were conducted using a ground-based launcher mounted on the Mitsubishi 8×8 Gen.2 platform.

The missile, including its booster, measures 9 meters in length and 1,000 mm in diameter. It weighs about 1,600 kg, similar in mass to the U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile, which Japan is acquiring as a temporary deterrent for its surface fleet.

The Ministry confirmed five test launches took place in October 2024 — three from land-based launchers and two from maritime platforms — but did not disclose the exact dates.