October 10, 2022

Japanese Subsonic to Hypersonic Missile Research

wispywood2344on October 1, 2022, commented

The diagram wispy drew for "More on Japan's ASCMs Types 12 & 17" of September 26, 2022 does not cover all of Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoDATLA's current anti-ship missile development & procurement projects.

wispy will now write about the omitted ones. 

1. Advanced Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) Research on elemental technologies for new ASCMs (FY2018-FY2022) [1][2].

All Japanese ASCMs were manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), but Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) won the bid for this research project.

This project aims to realize subsonic ASCMs with "long range," "high manoeuvrability," "modular structure," "stealth," and "automated optimal routing" around 2030.

One of the reasons why the Japanese MoD has begun development of the "Type 12 Imp[roved]." [Pete comment: This appears to a semi-indigenous Japanese effort similar to US Harpoon and Tomahawk Anti-Ship Missiles] that it cannot wait for completion of this project. 

2. Research on elemental technologies for highspeed glide missiles for islands defense (FY2018-FY2025) [2][3][4][5].

The aim of this project is to realize a ground-to-ground hypersonic glide missile capable of inter-island firing.

Two types exist: the rapidly-deployable "Block 1", and the long-range "Block 2".

The former is scheduled to begin production in FY2023, before the completion of this research project, like the "Type 12 Imp.".

The range is said to be 500 km, but it is not known which type it is.

Anti-ship capability will be added in the future. 

3. Research on elemental technologies for hypersonic cruise missiles (FY2019-FY2025)[6][7]

This project is development of a scramjet engine capable of cruising at hypersonic speeds (Mach 5 or higher).

The range is unknown.

Anti-ship capability will be added in the future. 

4. Importation of mult-national subsonic JSMs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Strike_Missile#Joint_Strike_Missile  (FY2018-)[2][8]

The only ASCMs that can be operated on the Japanese Air Force’s F-35A fleet.

They are introduced from the U.S. by FMS, but their delivery delay is considered problematic. 

[1] The MoD. "Preliminary project evaluation report : Research on elemental technologies for new anti ship missiles". See Japanese language PDF:

https://warp.da.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/11339364/www.mod.go.jp/j/approach/hyouka/seisaku/results/29/pdf/jizen_01_honbun.pdf

[2] The MoD. "Summary of FY2023 defense budget request". See page 9 of Japanese language PDF: https://www.mod.go.jp/j/yosan/yosan_gaiyo/2023/yosan_20220831.pdf

[3] The MoD. "Preliminary project evaluation report : Research on elemental technologies for highspeed glide missiles for islands defense". See Japanese language PDF: https://warp.da.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/11339364/www.mod.go.jp/j/approach/hyouka/seisaku/results/30/pdf/jizen_02_honbun.pdf

[4] The ATLA. "Current status and future prospects oh highspeed glide missiles for islands defense". See Japanese language PDF: https://www.mod.go.jp/atla/research/ats2019/doc/fukuda.pdf

[5] Mainichi-Shimbun (newspaper), "The MoD considers installing an anti-aircraft-carrier warhead on the high-speed glide missiles for island defense, as well as increasing their speed and range".

https://mainichi.jp/articles/20200224/k00/00m/010/219000c

[6] The MoD. "Preliminary project evaluation report : Research on elemental technologies for hypersonic cruise missiles". Translates to English: https://warp.da.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/11339364/www.mod.go.jp/j/approach/hyouka/seisaku/results/30/pdf/jizen_06_honbun.pdf

[7] The ATLA. "Explanation of standoff defense capability". See Japanese language PDF: https://www.mod.go.jp/atla/soubiseisaku/vision/rd_vision_kaisetsuR0203_05.pdf

[8] Kyodo News, Translates to English: "Delayed acquisition of long-range cruise missiles for ASDF F35, budget unexecuted". https://nordot.app/894192844776275968?c=39546741839462401  

2 comments:

  1. Hi Pete

    There has been a follow-up report[1] on the news of Japanese long-range missiles.

    According to this report, both the "hypersonic cruise missile (HCM)" and the "highspeed glide missile (HGM) for island defense Block 2" have a range of over 1,000 km.

    This is the first time that the range of a HCM has been reported.

    The range of the HGM was said to be 500 km[2], but this is apparently the range of the "rapidly-deployable" Block 1.
    Block 1's range of 500 km realizes "inter-island" firing from Okinawa main island to the entire Nansei islands, but is not enough to cover the Taiwan Strait.
    Block 2's range of 1,000+ km will not only realizes "island-to-mainland" firing, i.e., from Okinawa main island to the west coast of the Taiwan strait, but also "inter-mainland" firing, i.e., from Kyushu to Shanghai.

    [1]Sankei-Shimbun (newspaper), "[Exclusive] The Japanese MoD considers to procure 1,500 long-range missiles within 10 years".
    https://www.sankei.com/article/20221106-WRI5DOYKCJMM7FMDMB3LY53IQI/
    [2]Mainichi-Shimbun (newspaper), "The Japanese MoD considers installing an anti-aircraft-carrier warhead on the highspeed glide missiles for island defense, as well as increasing their speed and range".
    https://mainichi.jp/articles/20200224/k00/00m/010/219000c

    Regards

    wispywood2344

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks wispywood2344

    For your Nov 13, 2022, 2:33:00 PM information.

    I've turned it into article "Japanese hypersonic cruise & glide missile progress" dated November 21, 2022

    at https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2022/11/japanese-hypersonic-cruise-glide.html

    Regrads Pete

    ReplyDelete

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