Japan launched two Type 88 anti-ship missiles against a decommissioned vessel last Wednesday (6), during the Balikatan 2026 exercise in the Philippines.
The missile launch took place in the sand dunes of Culili Point, south of the city of Laoag, in northwestern Luzon, according to a report by Naval News. A single 6×6 launcher vehicle belonging to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) fired a pair of missiles at a decommissioned ship 75 km away in the South China Sea.
The target was the BRP Quezon (PS-70), a former Philippine Navy ship and previously an Auk-class minesweeper of the U.S. Navy. The vessel was successfully hit six minutes after the launches and was sunk by the pair of Japanese missiles, according to authorities.
This exercise was one of the closing events of Balikatan, an annual series of multilateral warfare training exercises held in the Philippines. This year’s exercise took place from April 20 to May 8 and involved approximately 17,000 troops from seven countries.
This was the first time Japanese combat troops actively participated in the Balikatan exercise, which until recently involved only Australia, the Philippines, and the U.S. Other countries making their debut in the 2026 exercise were Canada, France, and New Zealand.
The Type 88, manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), is a relatively old anti-ship missile system, as it has been in service for more than 35 years. It will be progressively replaced by the more modern and capable Type 12, also a product from MHI’s portfolio.
“We saw how it works, and it is something we can interact with in the future. From planning to training and resource management, it will only become smoother and better,” said Gilberto Teodoro Jr., the Philippine Defense Secretary who witnessed the live-fire exercise on May 6.
Photo: Philippine Department of Defense. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
