Japan studies expanding the range of a high-speed missile to defend the Senkakus

Japan is studying the possibility of extending the range of a new high-speed missile, still under development, beyond 1,000 kilometers.

The goal of the project is to better defend its remote islands, including the Japanese-administered Senkakus, government sources said on Sunday.

The land-based long-range missile’s planned upgrade will put China’s and North Korea’s coastal areas within its range, at a time when Japan is ramping up its deterrence amid North Korean nuclear and missile threats. and China’s military assertiveness, the sources said.

The Senkakus have long been a source of friction for Tokyo and Beijing, which lays claim to the group of uninhabited islets in the East China Sea.

North Korea has launched ballistic missiles at an unprecedented rate since the beginning of this year, including one that flew over Japan.

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The missile that Japan hopes to develop contains a number of features that will make it difficult to intercept.

After being fired from a mobile launcher, the warhead separates at a high altitude and follows an irregular trajectory before gliding at supersonic speed towards its target.

Research on the missile began in fiscal year 2018, and current prototypes have a range of several hundred kilometers. They are expected to be mass-produced starting next fiscal year and deployed in fiscal year 2026. The upgraded version will extend the range beyond 1,000 km.

Planned enhancement of land-based long-range missile will bring coastal areas of China and North Korea within range

The move comes at a time when Japan is trying to develop its own standoff missiles – capable of attacking enemy ships from outside their range – that can be launched not only from land but also from ships and aircraft.

To that end, it is planning to extend the range of the Self-Defense Force’s Type 12 surface-to-ship guided missiles.

In addition, Japan is studying the possibility of buying US-developed Tomahawk cruise missiles, which have a range of up to 2,500 km and can hover relatively low to the ground, to bolster their deterrent capabilities, according to government officials.