Cooperation on Hypersonic Missile Detection at US-Japan Summit

Strengthening Missile Response Capabilities between North Korea and China

U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are expected to agree on cooperating to establish a satellite network for detecting and tracking hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs).

On the 9th, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the two leaders are scheduled to reach this agreement during their summit meeting in the United States on the 10th (local time).

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (center left) and his wife Yuko visited the United States on a state visit on the 8th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

This move aims to strengthen missile defense capabilities in response to North Korea and China accelerating their HGV development. HGVs are missiles that fly at low altitudes at speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound (Mach 5), making them difficult to detect and intercept, thus posing a significant threat. North Korea conducted a test launch of a glider-type hypersonic missile on the 3rd.

The United States is also pursuing the deployment of a constellation of small satellites operated collectively to track HGVs.

The joint statement to be released after the U.S.-Japan summit will specify that the U.S. will cooperate in Japan's establishment of a low Earth orbit satellite network. Additionally, considering that China and Russia are developing so-called "killer satellites" capable of attacking other countries' satellites, the two nations will confirm cooperation in space situational awareness as well.

Prime Minister Kishida, who is on a state visit to the United States until the 14th, plans to strengthen cooperation with the U.S. in security and economic fields, including holding a summit meeting with President Biden.

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