The Japan Self-Defense Army (JGSDF) wants to modernize its Type 03 anti-aircraft missiles to make them capable of intercepting hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV).
According to a source from the portal Kyodo News, China and Russia, Japan's biggest opponents, are working on the development of this type of weapon. The Government plans to start launching software for the Type 03 missiles in FY 2026, to start mass production of the modernized model in FY 2029.
The source alleges that the missile upgrade is part of efforts to increase "comprehensive air and anti-missile defense" capabilities. That work is to be referenced by the government in the National Security Strategy, a long-term policy guideline that is expected to be revised by the end of this year.
It is possible that Japan work alongside the United States in the development of the “anti-hypersonic” ability. According to Inside Defense, Washington hopes to adopt the same approach used in the development of the RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 anti-aircraft missile (SM-3) Block IIA. In this way, the Pentagon shares the costs with a foreign partner.
The Type 03 Chu-SAM, also called the SAM-4, is a medium-range mobile anti-aircraft system developed by Kato and Mitsubishi in the late 1990s to replace the MIM-23 HAWK North Americans.
Each battery is made up of at least five vehicles: a command vehicle, a radar vehicle, a launch vehicle, a refueling vehicle and a generator truck. The launcher, based on an 8×8 heavy truck, carries six interceptors capable of shooting down planes, helicopters, drones and cruise missiles from 50 km away and 10 km high.
Even with the upgrade, the source notes that Japan's ability to counter hypersonic weapons is uncertain. The race among major military powers to develop such weapons is intensifying, and the technologies must continue to advance.
So far, only Russia and China employ hypersonic gliders, in the form of the Yu-74 Avangard and DF-ZF, respectively. contrary to Most famous Kh-47 Kinzhal (used by Russians against Ukraine), which follows a ballistic trajectory, HGVs are maneuverable, which greatly decreases the chances of a successful interception.
While Beijing and Moscow already have their hypersonic and HGV missiles in service, the US and its allies are still developing their own artifacts and missiles with anti-hypersonic capabilities.
Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin have agreed on t research and development of hypersonic weapons technologies.
With information WeaponSystems.net, Kyodo News, Inside Defense
