wispywood2344 , Anonymous and Gessler have separately brought up the issue of Japan considering the order of US Tomahawk cruise missiles while Japan perfects long range "Type 12 Imp" cruise missiles. Both missiles are capable of anti-ship and land attack missions. They are capable of being fired from land, aircraft, surface warship and (of most interest to this blog) from submarines.
In the spirit of its Peace Constitution Japan is remaining very subtle in developing "New Defence Program Guidelines" on future consideration of an "experimental" or prototype conventionally propelled missile submarine (SSG).
The construction of the submarine will start in fiscal 2024 with eventual testing perhaps out to 2036. If testing looks positive serial production of Japanese SSGs could commence in 2040 following the end of the Taigei-class submarine production period.
One missile launch method under consideration might be horizontal torpedo tubes - perhaps an increase of the 6 tubes in the Taigeis to 10 tubes in a new SSG class.
More radically and along the lines of Japan's South Korean "frenemy's" KSS-III SSG/SSBs Japan might consider vertical launch tubes. Vertical tubes can be larger, hence more versatile than typical 533mm (up to 650mm) horizontal tubes. Vertical tube versatility can permit larger types of hypersonic or ballistic missiles to be fitted.
Under Japan's Peace Constitution it does not want to spell out that its future SSG/Bs might one day be capable of firing hypersonic or ballistic missiles. Hypersonic or ballistic missiles could not only be Japan's touted "defensive" responses, but for pre-emptive strikes. Pre-emptive strikes are better done by "special" non-conventional warheads, but mention of all this is officially taboo under the Peace Constitution.
The main possible targets are not South Korea (even with SK's ballistic missiles) but the North Korean landmass. Conceivably future targets might also be vessels belonging to China (particularly in a Taiwan contingency, late 2020s onwards) and even Russian vessels.
Meanwhile, increasing Japanese use of LDUUVs and smart mines might also enhance Japan's ASW capabilities.
South Korean and Japanese conventionally propelled submarine capabilities are forging ahead, while Australia's (all in the SSN basket?) undersea future may hopefully be revealed in March 2023.
Hi Pete
ReplyDeleteI introduce the latest TV program on Japan MoD.
Ex-minister of Defense, Itsunori Onodera called MoD to inquire about the article (https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20221030-67735/), MoD clearly denied the article. But, he said MoD publicly did not deny the said article and criticized attitude of MoD.
Ex-commander in Chief, Self Defense Fleet, Yoji Koda said that as improvement (increased operational range of 1000km) of Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile (200km) is rather difficult. He explained that procurement of Tomahawk was an insurance in case of failure of the said improvement. Koda also said MoD had prepared 4 or 5 action plans against invasion of Taiwan by China.
Regards
Thanks Anonymous @Nov 7, 2022, 11:19:00 PM
ReplyDeleteIt is not surpising that the Japanese Government, in publicly upholding the Peace Constitution, has distanced itself from the Land Attack Implications of https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20221030-67735/ .
It is curious as to why Japan just does not buy several hundred US made (or perhaps Japanese assembled) Tomahawk cruise missiles.
A.
1. Would the US have excessive political and technical control of Japanese Tomahawk use?
2. Might Japan (in further developing the Type 12 Anti-Ship and Land Attack cruise missile) want to exceed Tomahawk capabilities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_12_Surface-to-Ship_Missile
3. Or are the Type 12s another aspect of Japan's indigenous "Develop and Build in Japan" industrial approach. Much like the Mitsubishi F-2 multirole aircraft (clearly derived from the US F-16) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_F-2
B. Yes "Koda also said MoD had prepared 4 or 5 [Japanese] action plans against invasion of Taiwan by China." is interesting.
Regards Pete
The Japanese government has decided to make a major military buildup and has declared that the defense budget for FY2023 will be 27% higher than in FY2022. [1]
ReplyDeleteIt also announced a policy of developing weapons such as standoff missiles.
Here, I would like to introduce matters related to submarines.
(A) Development of VLS-equipped submarines [4]
(B) Submarine-launched missiles
Two types of cruise missiles will be developed.
One will be launched from a torpedo tube and probably fly at subsonic speeds. [5][9]
The other will probably be launched from a VLS and fly at hypersonic speeds. [2]
The latter has a land-launched version, reportedly has a range of 2000-3000 km. [8][10]
(C) Procurement of new torpedoes
The quieter version of the Type 18 torpedo. [3]
The development project to apply a new turbine engine has been underway since FY2018 and will be completed as planned. [8]
(D) Research on UUV control technology
Establish target detection, class identification, motion analysis technology using passive sonar onboard UUVs, automatic obstacle avoidance technology, and position control technology using inter-UUV underwater communication. [7]
For new information on standoff missiles such as HGM, please refer to the list I prepared if you are interested. [11]
[1]FY Reiwa05(2023) Defense Programs and Budget of Japan
https://www.mod.go.jp/j/yosan/yosan_gaiyo/2023/yosan_20221223.pdf#page=5
[2]ibid.
https://www.mod.go.jp/j/yosan/yosan_gaiyo/2023/yosan_20221223.pdf#page=12
*Look at a submarine firing "極超音速誘導弾" (Hypersonic Cruise Missile).
[3]ibid.
https://www.mod.go.jp/j/yosan/yosan_gaiyo/2023/yosan_20221223.pdf#page=31
[4]Defense Force Development Plan : Composition of the JSDF
https://www.mod.go.jp/j/approach/agenda/guideline/plan/plan_03.html
[5]FY Reiwa04(2022) preliminary project evaluation : Submarine launched missile
https://www.mod.go.jp/j/approach/hyouka/seisaku/2022/pdf/jizen_11_honbun.pdf
[6]FY Reiwa04(2022) preliminary project evaluation : Research on hypersonic cruise missile
https://www.mod.go.jp/j/approach/hyouka/seisaku/2022/pdf/jizen_02_honbun.pdf
[7]FY Reiwa04(2022) preliminary project evaluation : Research on UUV control technology
https://www.mod.go.jp/j/approach/hyouka/seisaku/2022/pdf/jizen_03_honbun.pdf
[8]FY Heisei28(2017) preliminary project evaluation : New torpedo equipped with silent engine
https://warp.da.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/11591426/www.mod.go.jp/j/approach/hyouka/seisaku/29/pdf/jizen_12_honbun.pdf
[9]Summary of Proceedings of the 43rd Expert Committee on Policy Evaluation of the MoD
https://www.mod.go.jp/j/approach/agenda/meeting/seisaku/pdf/gijigaiyou43.pdf#page=4
*An outside expert asked about the missile's launcher, and the official replied "Conventional torpedo tube is considerd".
[10]Asahi Shimbun(newspaper) : Long-range missiles will be deployed in phases "in 5 years" and "in 10 years".
https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASQDW5QBXQDVUTFK00B.html
[11]http://blog.livedoor.jp/wispywood2344/others/Japanese_Stand_Off_Missile_Development.html
Regards
wispywood2344
Hi wispywood2344
ReplyDeleteThanks for your Jan 8, 2023, 2:45:00 AM comments.
I have used them in article "Japanese VLS Submarines?: Nuclear Warhead Tendency" of January 12, 2023
at https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2023/01/japanese-vls-submarines-nuclear-warhead.html
Its amazing Japan's "defense budget for FY2023 will be 27% higher than in FY2022" and only right that Japan is moving from a Defence budget of 1% GDP to 2% GDP.
Regards Pete