Philippines Interested In Japan's Type 88 Surface-to-Ship Missile System

29 Mei 2026

Type 88 Surface-to-Ship Missile System (photo: DND)

Type 88 missile system to beef up PH's archipelagic defense thrust

MANILA – Japan's Type 88 surface-to-ship missile system could greatly enhance the defensive capabilities of the country's Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) should the Philippines manage to acquire it.

"That will be a big help because it is aligned with our capability development for CADC," Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Navy, reservist Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, said during an interview with reporters on Wednesday.

Once acquired, Trinidad said, this platform will allow the AFP more leeway in carrying out its mandate under the CADC.

Japan's Type 88 surface-to-ship missile system got a lot of fanfare in the "Balikatan" exercise earlier this month when it was used for the first time to sink a decommissioned Philippine Navy (PN) ship during a maritime strike training exercise off Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

Under the CADC, the AFP is required to protect all Philippine territories, including its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, from all hostile threats.

Type 88 Surface-to-Ship Missile System (photo: AP)

Possibility of Exporting to Philippines

Japanese media reports earlier said Tokyo is looking at the possibility of exporting the weapon system to the Philippines.

This report has yet to be confirmed by Philippine defense and military officials.

Earlier, PN spokesperson Captain Marissa Martinez said that Japan's Type 88 surface-to-ship missile systems could be a valuable addition to the country's coastal defense capabilities.

She declined to comment on what role the Type 88 can play should the Philippines get around to getting it even as the BrahMos cruise missile system, which the Philippines acquired three batteries from India, is now nearing operationalization.

These missiles are capable of a speed of Mach 2.8 and have a warhead of 200 kg. to 300 kg. and a range of 290 km.

The Type 88 has a range of 100 to 180 km. and a warhead weight of 225 kg. and with speeds described as subsonic. 

(PNA)