TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan is considering allocating 19.8 billion yen ($130 million) for the mass production of long-range missiles in the budget for fiscal 2025 from next April, sources familiar with the matter said Tuesday, as part of the nation's efforts to obtain strike capabilities.

The government will use 16.8 billion yen to churn out an improved, ship-fired version of the Type-12 surface-to-ship guided missile with an extended range, while 3.0 billion yen will be earmarked for a submarine-launched version, according to the sources.

The sources also said 239.1 billion yen will be allocated to develop hypersonic-guided missiles, which fly at over Mach 5 -- five times the speed of sound -- making them harder to intercept, and to construct production facilities.

In December 2022, Japan updated its long-term policy guidelines, the National Security Strategy, pledging to acquire "counterstrike capabilities" to hit enemy territory directly in an emergency for stronger deterrence amid growing security threats from nations such as China and North Korea.

The sources said 41.5 billion yen will be set aside for the deployment of the U.S.-made large drone "MQ-9B SeaGuardian" to the Maritime Self-Defense Force for better surveillance operations in nearby waters.

Following the Defense Ministry's request for a record budget of 8.5 trillion yen in August, the government is arranging to shell out more than that, the sources added.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet is expected to approve a general account fiscal 2025 budget in late December.