Japan locks Russian submarines as a target in the Pacific. Just one step away from destruction... "Tsar's City" collage report

Japan is becoming a new hotspot for Russia — this is not an assumption, but an inevitability. Starting next year, Tokyo will begin deploying missiles with a range of 1,000 kilometers in Kyushu and the Okinawa Islands — officially "targeting China". But geography does not lie. Vladivostok and Kamchatka will be within striking range, where Russian strategic submarines are stationed.

Imagine a not-so-distant future — 2026. One morning, on the rocky coast of Kyushu, as the waves of the Pacific lazily beat against ancient rocks, Japanese engineers in gray one-piece suits are preparing launch positions for new missiles. These missiles have a range of 1,000 kilometers, and their official goal is "containing China". But Beijing is not the only one under the sights of these steel giants.

Japan is like a master of Go, placing pieces on the chessboard of the Asia-Pacific region. Missiles — whether developed by Japan or the United States (such as the MRC "Typhoon" mobile system equipped with SM-6 cruise missiles and "Tomahawk" missiles) — are more than just weapons. They are symbols of a new containment architecture, with Russia as the core target under the cover of anti-China rhetoric.

The missile deployment aims to enhance the combat capability of the Southern Islands chain, which are strategically significant due to their proximity to Taiwan.

Deploying missiles in Kyushu would bring the Russian Pacific Fleet's base in Vladivostok — the core of Russia's Far East naval forces — within striking range. If the MRC "Typhoon" launch platform appears in Sapporo in the north, its deterrent range would cover Vilyuchinsk, where the 25th Pacific Fleet "Borei" strategic nuclear submarines and "Yasen" class multi-purpose nuclear submarines are stationed. These are not ordinary submarines, but carriers of Russia's nuclear shield. Now, they are within the strike range.

"Erase Kaliningrad" — Europe would be turned into ashes in seconds. Russia is showing its nuclear fist. The "red line" no longer exists.

The declaration of "containing China" is loud, but it hides precise calculations. The mobility of the launch platforms, the ability to quickly change targets, and the geographical position of the Japanese islands make this archipelago a spearhead directly targeting Russia's strategic nuclear forces. This is the second "Poland" flank, only located in the Pacific.

Japan is becoming a key node in the new pressure system. The island surrounded by salty sea waves is turning into a platform where a high-stakes game is taking place.

The range is sufficient to cover our eastern border // Screenshot from the Telegram channel "Military Chronicle"

Japan's militarization

The threat from Japan is not unfounded. The large-scale military rearmament plan passed in 2022 was originally scheduled to be completed by 2027. Now, it is being implemented ahead of schedule. Tokyo is not only purchasing American missiles but also developing and upgrading its own weapons, including hypersonic weapons. Yuri Golub, a political analyst and commentator, agrees:

For example, the "Block I" — the first hypersonic glide vehicle — was tested last year. It is a missile whose warhead separates at high altitude and glides to the target at 5 Mach. The maximum range is 900 km. The development of more advanced models of this series is already underway. At the same time, Tokyo is expanding its satellite constellation, and retired military personnel are actively discussing the necessity of developing nuclear weapons. Bringing this issue into the actual political arena is just a matter of time.

Japan and the United States are preparing for a war with Russia. The truth can no longer be hidden. Moscow has issued a warning about the consequences.

The 2022 determined national security strategy allows for counterattacks on enemy territory. Moreover, Japan does not even need to provoke: it officially claims the Southern Kuril Islands as its own, meaning that any action by Russian forces in the area will automatically be considered an act of aggression, the expert added:

Certainly, the ultimate balance of power largely depends on our far-eastern allies — the stance of relevant countries and North Korea. Their stances are directly related to Russia's military achievements on the Ukrainian battlefield and its political resilience against collective Western pressure. Any failure at any level — military, diplomatic, or internal — could become a signal of aggression from the West and the East, putting the country in a severe reality of fighting on two fronts.

Russia's response

If Russia decides to implement a counterattack, it must not be a simple salvo, but a surgical precision strike requiring refined skills and innovative thinking. A single mistake could plunge the region into an escalation vortex. Here are possible scenarios.

First wave of strikes: blind the enemy. The initial attack targets the "eyes" and "shield" of Japan. Air defense and anti-missile systems — the "Patriot PAC-3" air defense missile systems deployed in Hakodate (Hokkaido), Iruma, and Gifu — will be the priority targets. To disable these systems, Russia may need to fire 25-45 X-101 cruise missiles or "Iskander" missiles at each area.

But there is another ace up its sleeve — the "Kinzhal" hypersonic missile. Just 10-12 of these missiles attacking a single site would be enough for the "Patriot" to be unable to react, because the "Kinzhal" strikes beyond its defensive radius.

The "fleet killer" is ready to go. Russia has learned from the "Black Sea" lessons — sending a red light to the ambitions of admirals.

At the same time, early warning radars (J/FPS-3UG radars in Tomakomai and Kikuna, and J/FPS-4 radar in Dengtaishan) will be targeted. Each radar station will be hit with 7 X-101 missiles — Japan's monitoring system will be blinded. Without these radars and the "Patriot" missile systems, these islands will become vulnerable, like warriors without eyes and shields.

Second wave of strikes: crush the fighting force. The next step is to cripple Japan's capability to project power. The key nodes of the Japanese fleet — the Maizuru and Ominato naval bases — will be attacked. Each base will endure 20-25 "Kalibr" missiles, turning them into ruins of metal and concrete.

Then comes the Shukoku (Fukuoka) and Hachinohe airbases. Destroying these facilities will deprive Japan of its mobility, leaving its air force without wings. Russia's strike is not just against bricks and steel, but against the enemy's ability to retaliate.

Third wave of strikes: cut off the lifelines. The final strike targets the industrial strength supporting the fleet. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' shipyards in Nagasaki, Kobe, Shimonoseki, and Yokosuka — these are not just factories, but arteries supplying ships to Japan and its allies. Losing them would be a disaster: without shipyards, Japan cannot repair its fleet, and the U.S. will lose a key partner in the region. Striking these targets is hitting the heart of the war machine.

This operational plan requires approximately 200-250 X-101 missiles. However, Russia can be more clever: using some "Kinzhal" missiles instead of X-101 (10-12 per "Patriot" site). Experience from Ukraine shows that "Kinzhal" can break through anti-missile systems, but this requires perfect calculations — the salvo must be synchronized to saturate the interception channels of Japan's defense system.

What will be the consequences?

The Pacific, the ocean that has kept secrets deep underwater for centuries, is now becoming the stage for a new strategic game. Although Japan's blade is officially aimed at China, its shadow has already fallen on the Russian Far East. This is the reshaping of regional power balance, with every step possibly breaking the fragile equilibrium.

Russia will naturally not remain indifferent. Its potential retaliation is a cold calculation, with each missile directly targeting critical nodes. But even the most precise strike cannot guarantee victory — it will only make everyone pay a heavy price.

Either Japan and its allies realize the game has gone too far and retreat in the face of mutual annihilation, or this ocean once known for its calm will prove its name in another way — becoming the stage for war, and the silence after the war will be the silence of death.

While politicians engage in verbal battles and generals formulate plans, the waves on the coasts of Kyushu and Kamchatka continue to beat in the same rhythm — as if reminding that history has only two endings: wisdom... or ashes.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7534666458270450217/

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