Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force has test-fired a surface-to-ship missile in an exercise with the Australian military.

The GSDF has been taking part in a multinational drill that started in Australia on Thursday.

The GSDF conducted a live-firing of a Type-12 anti-ship missile off the southern Australian coast of Jervis Bay on Saturday.

The training scenario targeted a small ship that had been located by Japanese and Australian drones. Officials say the missile hit the target.

The Type-12 missile currently has a range of close to 200 kilometers.

The Japanese Defense Ministry plans to extend the range to about 1,000 kilometers. The missile is regarded as a possible candidate to give Japan counterstrike capabilities to hit an opponent's missile bases and other targets.

This is the first time a Japanese-developed Type-12 missile was fired in training in Australia. The drill was apparently aimed at demonstrating cooperation between Japan and Australia at a time when China is stepping up its maritime activities.