Japan launches 16 F-2 fighters with anti-ship missiles in response to China’s actions (Photo: Tetsuya Jin)
Japan has launched 16 F-2 fighters armed with a total of 64 anti-ship missiles in response to the increased activity of the Chinese navy in the region.
According to Japanese analyst Yoshihiro Inaba from the website Naval News, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-2 fighters were observed conducting training flights at Tsuiki Air Base on December 9, 2025.
Each aircraft was armed with four ASM-2 anti-ship missiles, which have a range of over 140 kilometers. These missiles are equipped with infrared seekers, infrared countermeasure discrimination systems, and a target silhouette database used for identification.
(Photo: Tetsuya Jin)
The simultaneous deployment of such a large number of aircraft armed with anti-ship missiles is an unusual occurrence for Japan. As the analyst noted, these actions were intended to deter the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) aircraft carrier strike group Liaoning, which was operating near Kyushu Island.
On December 6, the Liaoning passed through the Miyako Strait, between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island, before changing course and heading northeast into the waters south of Okinawa. The Chinese aircraft carrier continued sailing in the waters south of Kyushu on December 7.
During this period, J-15 fighters based on the Liaoning used their radars to target Japanese F-15 fighters, leading to heightened tensions between the Chinese military and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.
Photos: Tetsuya Jin. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
