Japan has developed and tested the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile (HVGP) as part of efforts to join the hypersonic club and bolster defense against hypersonic weapons from China and Russia.
According to reports published last week, Tokyo’s ATLA (Acquisition Technology and Logistics Agency) — which operates within the framework of Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) — announced that Japan carried out its first hypersonic weapon test in the United States on March 23, 2024.
Interestingly, the US itself is struggling to field hypersonic weapons and trails Russia and China.
The computerized graphic and video footage of the test launch, which was only recently made public, depicted the weapon as a “High-Speed Gliding Missile for Island Defense,” implying that the hypersonic weapon falls within the boost-glide vehicle category. The weapon, which has been under development for a while, has reportedly been reserved for use by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF).
According to ATLA, the test was conducted “to verify the measurement systems for future launch tests.”
Amid mounting threats posed by hypersonic weapons deployed by Russia and China, Japan’s HVGP is scheduled to be deployed in fiscal year 2026. There is growing concern in Tokyo regarding North Korea’s hypersonic missiles.
Hypersonic weapons are far more difficult to intercept since they can maneuver while in flight and travel at speeds greater than five times the speed of sound.Compared to ballistic missile attacks, which can be defended with cutting-edge missile defense systems, hypersonic weapons are more challenging to intercept since they are agile and capable of changing direction while in flight.
The development of interceptor missiles becomes necessary as China, Russia, and North Korea aggressively increase their hypersonic arsenal.
While Russia has deployed two of three hypersonic weapons, including the Zircon and the Kinzhal, China is advancing with longer-range hypersonic weapons such as the DF-27 and has already operationalized the DF-17.
Japan has been vocal about enhancing its hypersonic weapons to bolster security and establish a defensive response against its rivals in the area. The HVGP will be used for island defense, in line with Japan’s stance about establishing defense against hypersonic weapons.
As per reports, the warhead separates from the truck-mounted launcher and glides to hit its target after being propelled by a booster. The HVGP will be built in steps, with incremental feature upgrades, to enable early deployment. This time, a test was carried out using the most basic “Early Deployment Version (Block 1)” test projectile.
