Japan reveals test launch of its hypersonic strike missile program

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Japan has revealed video footage of the maiden test launch of a hypersonic missile currently under development.

Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency – ATLA for short – published the video on its official YouTube page on July 4. In an accompanying explanation, it said it had “conducted a pre-launch test of a Hyper-Velocity Gliding Projectile for island defense” in California on March 23.

Examining the video footage, Timothy Wright, research associate in the Defence and Military Analysis Programme of the U.K.-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), offered this explanation to Defense News:

“Japan conducted two preliminary tests of its so-called HVGP in March and April, 2024 respectively. The missile’s manufacturer said the purpose of the test was to validate ‘measurement’ units, possibly meaning the missile’s inertial navigation system. ATLA did not say whether the warhead separated from the booster during either test.”

Once fielded, the HVGP, made by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, will be launched from a truck using a booster, after which the warhead separates and glides towards its target.

Wright noted, “Japan is developing the HVGP for both anti-ship and land attack missions to intercept and eliminate invading forces against Japan at a distance and at an early stage.”

ATLA has previously released computer animations of an HVGP attacking an enemy aircraft carrier.

When development commenced in fiscal 2015, the HVGP was slated to enter service in 2029. However, Japan’s perceived deterioration of its security environment – prompted primarily by China and North Korea – caused defense leaders to accelerate the missile’s development by three years.

The high-supersonic Block I version of the HVGP, with an estimated maximum range of 310 miles (500km), is now expected to be fielded by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) in 2026.

As part of its incremental development, a hypersonic Block 2 version, with perhaps an 1,864-mile (3,000km) range, will be fielded in around FY2030.

“Japan’s current missile capabilities reflect the restrictions of its post-1945 defense posture, but those limitations will soon change substantially following Tokyo’s groundbreaking decision in 2023 for it to procure so-called ‘counterstrike’ capabilities,” Wright said.

The IISS researcher said Tokyo is developing “at least seven new types of air-, sea- and ground-launched missiles for land and maritime roles, and buying three different missile designs from its U.S. ally”.

One of those American missiles is the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM). Also on July 4, ATLA confirmed it had signed an agreement to acquire the Lockheed Martin-made weapon. The U.S. had approved a $104 million Foreign Military Sale of 50 AGM-158B/B-2 JASSMs with extended range last August.

These, plus the HVGP, will strengthen Japan’s “stand-off defense capabilities in order to quickly and remotely intercept and eliminate invading forces against our country,” ATLA said.

Japanese ground forces are expected to eventually field two HVGP battalions.

“Once these systems enter service in large numbers, Japan will possess one of the most significant long-range strike capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Wright.

Gordon Arthur is an Asia correspondent for Defense News. After a 20-year stint working in Hong Kong, he now resides in New Zealand. He has attended military exercises and defense exhibitions in about 20 countries around the Asia-Pacific region.

新西兰基督城——日本公布了正在研发中的高超音速导弹首次试射的视频片段。

日本采办、技术及后勤局（简称ATLA）于7月4日在其官方YouTube页面上发布了该视频。在随附的解释中，该机构表示，它于3月23日在加利福尼亚州“进行了用于岛屿防御的超高速滑翔弹的发射前测试”。

英国国际战略研究所（IISS）国防与军事分析项目研究员蒂莫西·赖特在查看视频片段后，向《防务新闻》提供了以下解释：

“日本分别于2024年3月和4月对其所谓的HVGP导弹​​进行了两次初步测试。导弹制造商表示，测试的目的是验证‘测量’单元，可能指的是导弹的惯性导航系统。ATLA没有说明两次测试中弹头是否与助推器分离。”

HVGP（由三菱重工制造）一旦部署到位，将使用助推器从卡车上发射，之后弹头分离并滑翔向目标。

赖特指出，“日本正在研发HVGP，用于反舰和对陆攻击任务，以便在远距离和早期阶段拦截和消灭入侵日本的部队。”

ATLA 此前曾发布过 HVGP 攻击敌方航空母舰的电脑动画。

HVGP导弹​​于2015财年开始研发，原计划于2029年服役。然而，由于中国和朝鲜等因素导致日本安全环境恶化，国防领导人决定将该导弹的研发进度提前三年。

HVGP 的高超音速 Block I 型，预计最大航程为 310 英里（500 公里），目前预计将于 2026 年由日本陆上自卫队 (JGSDF) 部署。

作为其渐进式发展的一部分，射程可能达到 1,864 英里（3,000 公里）的高超音速 Block 2 版本将于 2030 财年左右投入使用。

赖特表示：“日本目前的导弹能力反映了其 1945 年后的防御态势的限制，但随着东京在 2023 年做出具有里程碑意义的决定，即采购所谓的‘反击’能力，这些限制很快就会发生实质性改变。”

国际战略研究所的研究人员表示，东京正在研发“至少七种新型的空射、海射和陆射导弹，用于陆地和海上作战，并从其美国盟友那里购买三种不同的导弹设计”。

这些美国导弹中就包括联合空对地防区外导弹（JASSM）。7月4日，ATLA公司证实已签署协议采购洛克希德·马丁公司生产的这款武器。去年8月，美国批准了一项价值1.04亿美元的对外军售，向美国出售50枚射程更远的AGM-158B/B-2型JASSM导弹。

ATLA表示，这些武器加上HVGP将加强日本的“远程防御能力，以便快速远程拦截和消灭入侵我国的部队”。

预计日本地面部队最终将部署两个重型突击炮营。

赖特说：“一旦这些系统大量投入使用，日本将拥有亚太地区最重要的远程打击能力之一。”

戈登·阿瑟是《防务新闻》的亚洲特派记者。在香港工作20年后，他现居新西兰。他曾到访亚太地区约20个国家，参加过军事演习和防务展览。