20 November 2019

DSEI Japan 2019: Tokyo outlines hypersonic weapons' development plan

by Kosuke Takahashi

Japan has outlined its plan for the coming decades to develop and acquire hypersonic weapons amid concerns by Tokyo of the growing military capabilities of neighbouring countries such as China and North Korea.

An 18-page report distributed by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Tokyo at the 18–20 November DSEI Japan 2019 defence exhibition in Chiba stated that Japan needs to acquire core technologies that contribute to the “realisation of a stand-off defensive attack capability … with hypersonic projectiles”.

A sketch of Block I and Block II of Japan's future HVGP. Tokyo intends to deploy Block I in FY 2026 and Block II by FY 2023. (Japan MoD/Kosuke Takahashi)

The Northeast Asian country is looking to achieve this in two development stages, according to the MoD. The first will focus on the development of components and technologies related to the weapon’s warhead, airframe as well as fire-control, guidance, and propulsion systems. The second stage will involve using the R&D results from the first stage to test and evaluate the weapon and its capabilities.

Japan is currently developing two hypersonic weapons: the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile (HVGP) and the Hypersonic Cruising Missile.

The HVGP is designed for launch using a rocket motor, with the projectile (glide vehicle) separating from it at high altitude and then gliding at hypersonic speed to its target. The HVGP, which is set to be guided using an inertial navigation system (INS) aided by the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), will be developed in two variants (Block I and Block II), with Block II featuring higher speed and manoeuvrability, according to the ATLA.

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Japan has outlined its plan for the coming decades to develop and acquire hypersonic weapons amid co...

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