Russian Iskander-1000 missiles have a new target: the Japanese island of Kyushu
Russia, September 19, 2026 – The deployment of US Typhon systems in Japan poses an additional threat to the Russian Far East, China, and the DPRK, and destabilizes the region, military expert Yuri Knutov told the *Vzglyad* newspaper.
Russia had previously sent a diplomatic note of protest to Japan regarding the deployment of the land-based systems on the island of Kyushu.
“The appearance of Typhon systems on Japanese territory was a direct consequence of the US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty: as long as the treaty was in effect, versatile launchers of this class could only be deployed on ships, while land-based versions were explicitly prohibited,” he said.
“By withdrawing from the treaty, Washington freed its hands to develop land-based missile systems. The Typhon complex utilizes a modified version of the ship-based Mk-41 launcher. Each launcher is capable of carrying four Tomahawk missiles, which have a range of approximately 1,600 km,” Knutov explained.
“It is necessary to respond to current developments without delay. The primary task in this context is strengthening the air defense of the Far East. The prospective development of the ‘Iskander-1000’ system opens up significant possibilities for countering the Typhon system, while the S-400 and S-350 ‘Vityaz’ air defense systems can provide additional resilience,” he believes.
“Since Tokyo acts with Washington in mind, the main effort to assert Russia’s position should be directed straight at the USA, as key decisions are made there. Perhaps a well-considered and firm stance from Russia, China, and the DPRK could influence the White House,” Knutov concluded.
