[Foreign Media: Chinese Satellite Imagery Reveals Expansion of U.S. Cruise Missile Deployment at Forward Base in Japan]
According to a report published on July 17, 2026, by the Military Watch Magazine website: High-resolution images released by China's commercial satellite imaging company MizarVision show that parts of the U.S. Army’s "Typhon" medium-range missile system have been deployed at Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan. The footage was captured at Kure Air Base in southern Kyushu — one of the military facilities closest to Chinese territory. The satellite imagery clearly identifies launch vehicles, support vehicles, and related equipment. The Typhon system was previously prohibited from deployment under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. This deployment is highly controversial and is expected to further escalate tensions between China and its U.S. alliance partners in East Asia.
The Typhon missile system is one of the most critical new land-based strike capabilities for U.S. forces in the Pacific theater. It can launch the Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile with a range of approximately 1,600 kilometers, as well as SM-6 missiles designed for medium- to short-range strikes against enemy aircraft, missiles, and surface ships. This deployment reflects the broader U.S. strategy of expanding land-based missile deployments along the First Island Chain — stretching from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines — aiming to bring large areas of China’s eastern coastal region within striking range.
In May 2024, the U.S. Army first deployed the Typhon system to the Philippines; in July 2026, it conducted live-fire tests in Australia. China has consistently and firmly opposed the deployment of intermediate-range missiles by the United States in Asia, arguing that such weapons would heighten regional tensions and undermine strategic stability. Since China lacks overseas military bases capable of forward-deploying missile systems near U.S. territory like those used by the U.S. military, it is expected to place greater emphasis on developing carrier strike groups, attack nuclear submarines, and intercontinental stealth bombers to achieve deterrent coverage across vast regions of the Pacific Ocean.
The release of these images underscores the growing role of commercial satellite companies as active participants in geopolitical competition. MizarVision has gained prominence for tracking major military developments. Previously, it was the first to publicly disclose U.S. military troop concentrations in the Middle East ahead of a potential military strike on Iran, including images of aircraft carriers, aerial refueling tankers, fighter jets, and air defense systems. Although nominally a commercial enterprise, MizarVision operates within China’s rapidly advancing commercial remote sensing sector, and its intelligence-gathering capabilities now rival those traditionally monopolized by government agencies.
Disclaimer: The equipment data and images above are sourced from reports on the Military Watch Magazine website.
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Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870944738794507/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author