According to SCMP, Japan's Ministry of Defense said that the country will put into use its latest "ship killer" missile (upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missile) a year earlier than originally planned.
 |
| Type-12 surface-to-ship missile (right) and Type-3 medium-range surface-to-air missile. Photo: Kyodo |
Details of the upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missile were detailed in the Japanese Ministry of Defense's annual white paper released earlier this month.
The upgraded missile has “undergone numerous field tests” and will be ready for deployment next year – 12 months earlier than expected, according to the white paper.
Japan's hypersonic weapons will also be ready for delivery in 2026, three years after mass production begins, the ministry revealed, as the country aims to boost its hypersonic missile and defense capabilities.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said in the white paper that Japan is facing a "severe and complex security environment" and pledged to prioritize the development of Japan's long-range missile capabilities. "Japan will acquire a variety of long-range missiles earlier than originally planned, including Tomahawk missiles and a ground-launched version of the upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missile," Kihara said.
The white paper includes photos of a prototype of the upgraded missile, which features a low, visible nose and retracted wings. While it looks similar to the US-made AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), the Japanese weapon retains the original's X-shaped tail fin and air intakes on the underside of the fuselage. The extended wings and high-altitude turbofan engines suggest that the upgraded Type-12 will have a significantly longer range.
The white paper did not reveal the new missile's range, but Japanese media previously reported that the missile could hit targets at a distance of 900km (about 560 miles), with targets extending to 1,200km or even 1,500km.
 |
| Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said Japan will prioritize the development of long-range missile capabilities. Photo: Kyodo |
The Japanese military has placed a $2.35 billion order to buy 400 US-made Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles with a range of 1,600km.
The delivery of Tomahawk missiles has also been accelerated by one year to 2025. This means Japan's combat capabilities will be significantly enhanced next year when both the Type-12 and US-made Tomahawk missiles are added to the country's arsenal.
According to the white paper, in addition to the upgraded ground-launched version that is likely to be introduced next year, Japan will also continue to develop ship-launched and air-launched variants of the Type-12 and plans to deploy at least 11 units of this missile.
Japan has also been researching hypersonic glide projectiles (HVGPs) and hypersonic missiles since 2018, as part of efforts to enhance "the ability to disrupt and defeat targets at long ranges, thereby preventing invasion of Japan itself".
According to a video released by the Japanese Ministry of Defense's Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency earlier this month, the pre-launch HVGP test was conducted in California on March 23.
The video shows the rocket being launched using a booster from a truck-mounted launcher, "to test the measurement system for future launch tests".
The HVGP, which is still in development, began mass production last year with a target of starting deliveries in 2026.
The current version of the HVGP is intended for road-mobile launchers but an anti-ship variant – similar to the Tomahawk and JASSM – is also expected to be on the drawing board.
A separate hypersonic missile project was launched last year, “with the aim of starting mass production soon.” According to the white paper, the hypersonic missile will have a speed of over Mach 5 and will be compatible with all launchers – including land, ship and underwater – allowing it to strike both land and sea targets.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nhat-ban-dieu-chinh-ke-hoach-trien-khai-ten-lua-sat-thu-tau-chien-280551.html
Comment (0)