US Military to Temporarily Deploy Typhon and HIMARS Systems to Southern Japan

Japanese media reported that the US military will temporarily deploy the Typhon land-based missile launcher and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) to a Self-Defense Force base in Kagoshima Prefecture for upcoming joint US-Japan exercises. Kyodo News reported this earlier this week, citing several sources. The specific deployment site is the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Kanoya Air Base in Kanoya City, Kagoshima Prefecture, and both sides hope to strengthen troop cooperation and enhance deterrence. The report pointed out that both sides seem to hope to use this to contain China. The joint exercises to be conducted by the US and Japan include 'Valiant Shield' from late June to early July, and 'Orient Shield' in September. The US military expects to move the two types of launchers to US military bases in Japan for storage after the series of exercises. The Ministry of Defense revealed that there are no plans to use the above two types of launchers to conduct live-fire training during the deployment period. The Typhon can carry Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of about 1,600 kilometers, as well as Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) with a range of over 300 kilometers. On the other hand, HIMARS is equipped with a lightweight multiple rocket system, which can be loaded with up to 6 rockets, or one Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) with a range of about 300 kilometers.