US-Japan "Keen Sword 2027" Exercise: Two Advanced Anti-Ship Missile Systems to Be Deployed

The US-Japan "Keen Sword 2027" joint exercise will be held from October 19 to 29 on an unprecedented scale. During the exercise, Japan will for the first time deploy anti-ship missiles with a range of 1,000 kilometers outside its base in Kumamoto Prefecture, and the US military also plans to deploy the Nemesis unmanned anti-ship missile system to Yonaguni Island.

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The Keen Sword 2027 exercise runs from October 19 to 29. This biennial exercise is unprecedented in scale, with some 45,000 Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel and 12,000 US military personnel taking part, along with forces from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the Philippines. South Korea and the United Kingdom also sent observers.

According to a report by The Japan Times, during this exercise Japan will for the first time deploy the Type 12 anti-ship missile, with a range of 1,000 kilometers, outside its base in Kumamoto Prefecture. Its range can cover parts of China's coastal areas, making it a key weapon in Japan's build-up of counterstrike capabilities. The US military also plans to deploy the Naval and Marine Expeditionary Ship Interception System, commonly known as the Nemesis anti-ship missile system, to Yonaguni Island, whose strike range can cover large areas of sea north and east of Taiwan.

Nemesis is a ground-based unmanned anti-ship missile launch system developed by the US Marine Corps. The unmanned launcher carries two Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) jointly manufactured by the Norwegian defense company Kongsberg and the US company Raytheon. During this exercise, neither missile will be fired live; instead, engagements against enemy ships will be simulated.

Gary Holst is a retired US Navy captain who served as a surface warfare officer and commanded a squadron of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. He is currently the Senior Director of Missile Business Development at Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace's US subsidiary, and he introduced the advanced NSM missile as follows.