Defence Japan signs 378bn JPY contract for sub-launched standoff missiles

[thomas]

Yesterday, Japan's Defense Ministry announced it had signed contracts worth nearly 380 billion JPY (USD 2.8 billion) with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to develop and produce long-range missiles for deployment as early as 2026 amid growing fears of China's increasing military strength. The ministry said the contracts include missiles for surface, sea and air launches and a hypersonic ballistic missile for the defence of remote islands.

Mass production of Type 12 land-to-ship guided missiles and hypersonic gliding missiles, which have already been developed, will begin this year, the ministry said. Officials refused to provide the number of missiles that Japan plans to deploy but indicated that production is expected to gradually increase over the next five years. Due to limited land space at home, Japan plans to hold pre-deployment missile tests at military bases in the United States, ministry officials said. Another contract is for development of submarine-launched long-range anti-ship guided missiles, beginning this year and planned through 2027. Timing for their deployment is still undecided.

Japan signs $2.8B long-range missile development deals | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Tokyo also plans to buy Tomahawk cruise missiles from the U.S. to be deployed around the two-year period beginning April 2026. The fiscal 2023 budget, which took effect this month, allocates 211.3 billion JPY for the purchase. Japan aims to combine these tried-and-tested weapons with homegrown missiles for a multilayered deterrent. By the 2030s, Tokyo looks to equip submarines with hypersonic weapons capable of traveling at five times the speed of sound.

Paywall alert:

Japan taps Mitsubishi Heavy for sub-launched standoff missiles

Company wins $2.83bn in contracts for upgraded weapons and hypersonic vehicles

asia.nikkei.com

 

[mdchachi]

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