Japanese-Developed Supersonic Missile to Be Released Soon

[Researcher Donghyun Song, Aviation Guidance Division, Defense Agency for Technology and Quality] The Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced plans to begin mass production of the domestically developed ASM-3 supersonic air-launched anti-ship missile (ASM) extended-range version.

The MoD stated that this new missile, called the ASM-3A missile, is an improved version of the ASM-3 missile and features some of the technologies applied in the ASM-3(Kai) missile currently under development, but did not disclose the range.

The ASM-3 missile, estimated to have a top speed of Mach 3 and a maximum range of 200 km, was jointly developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the MoD as a successor to Japan’s Type 93 series missiles.

However, the ASM-3 missile has not been deployed, and it is understood that the more modernized ASM-3A and ASM-3(Kai) missiles will be put into operation instead. Both missile types are expected to be operated by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) on the F-2 multirole fighter and the future F-X fighter.

Japan plans to operate the ASM-3A missile and continue developing the ASM-3(Kai) missile to strengthen its defense capabilities in response to China’s increasing military power and aggressive activities around the island areas located in the southwestern remote regions of the country.

In September 2020, the MoD signed a contract worth 8.99 billion yen (87.5 million USD) with MHI for the development of the ASM-3(Kai) missile, which is expected to have a maximum range of over 400 km. The development of the ASM-3(Kai) missile is scheduled to be completed by the end of fiscal year 2025 (FY 2025).

Meanwhile, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force allocated 14.9 billion yen in the FY 2021 budget to acquire precision-guided joint strike missiles for the increasing number of F-35 fighter aircraft. Additionally, Japan plans to acquire Lockheed Martin’s AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER) and AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) to meet the air-launched long-range missile requirements for the Air Self-Defense Force’s multirole fighters.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.