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Russia fires supersonic anti-ship missile in Sea of Japan to destroy mock enemy target

Daily Express logo Daily Express 28/03/2023 Ciaran McGrath
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's Defense Ministry claims has test-fired anti-ship missiles in the Sea of . The ministry said this morning two boats launched a simulated missile attack on a mock enemy warship about 100 kilometres (60 miles) away.

The target was successfully hit by two Moskit cruise missiles, Russia claims.

The Moskit, whose NATO reporting name is the SS-N-22 Sunburn, is a supersonic anti-ship cruise missile that has conventional and nuclear warhead capacity.

It said the exercise took place in the Peter the Great Gulf in the Sea of Japan but did not give more precise coordinates.

The gulf borders the Russian Pacific Fleet headquarters at Fokino and is about 700 kilometers (430 miles) from Japan's northern Hokkaido Island.

Moskit missiles © NC Moskit missiles Rehearsal of Victory Day military parade in Moscow © Getty Rehearsal of Victory Day military parade in Moscow

Japan's Defense Ministry had no immediate response. The US Navy's 7th Fleet did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Russian nuclear-capable Tu-95 bombers flew over the Sea of Japan for several hours last week.

In September, Japan protested multinational military exercises on the Russian-held Kuril Islands - some of which are claimed by Japan - and expressed concern about Russian and Chinese warships conducting shooting drills in the Sea of Japan.

Russia also tested submarine-launched missiles in the Sea of Japan last year.

Sea of Japan © GETTY Sea of Japan Nikolay Patrushev © GETTY Nikolay Patrushev Moskit Russia © NC Moskit Russia

The latest move comes a day after Russian security chief Nikolay Patrushev claimed Japan was becoming "militatised" again in an interview with a Russian state-backed newspaper.

The Russia Security Council Secretary claimed: "Washington has pushed Tokyo toward militarising once again.

"Japan's self-defence forces are becoming a full-fledged army capable of conducting offensive operations."

Referring to World War 2, Patrushev accused the US of wanting "to make the citizens of the island state (Japan - TASS) kamikazes again, dying for the interests of others".

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