Japan Seeks Access to Indian Missile Testing Facilities
Japan is negotiating access to Indian firing ranges to train personnel on long-range surface-to-ship missiles and small attack drones.
The Government of Japan is seeking access to Indian missile testing sites and live firing ranges to conduct training for small attack drones and the Type 25 surface-to-ship guided missile. This weapon system, which entered service in March 2026, has a range of approximately 1,000 kilometers, creating significant training challenges within Japanese territory.
General Arai Masayoshi, Chief of Staff of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force, confirmed that personnel were dispatched to India to coordinate these efforts. A 34-member delegation visited India between October 4 and 9, 2026, meeting with the Indian Army and the Defence Research and Development Organisation to evaluate technological advancements and capabilities. While one report indicates the visit occurred in October, another suggests a visit took place in mid-May.
Potential sites for these tests include the Bay of Bengal and the facility in Chandipur, Odisha, which serves as the Indian Navy's largest live firing range. Japan is expanding these stand-off capabilities in response to Chinese military activity in the western Pacific and around Taiwan. The 2026 Defence White Paper identifies India as an extremely important partner and a key pillar for defense equipment and technology cooperation, specifically noting India's strategic position along shipping lanes such as the Strait of Malacca.
