Japan considers deploying hypersonic missiles in 2030 to increase deterrence against China and North Korea

The government of Japan It would be considering the deployment of hypersonic missiles in the archipelago from 2030, with the aim of increasing its deterrent power in the current scenario of growing geopolitical tension, according to the Nikkei newspaper.

These deliberations would be taking place during the review of the national security plan that Tokyo plans to update towards the end of the year and in which a rearmament of the country is expected with the war in Ukraine, the growing influence of China in the region and the weapons development of North Korea as a background.

LOOK: North Korea fires at least 23 missiles of various types, one near South Korea

This same Thursday, the North Korean regime launched three missiles early in the day, one of which triggered anti-aircraft alerts in various areas of the Japanese archipelago, and after launching a daily record of more than twenty projectiles the day before, a rate test that is worrying the Japanese authorities.

Hypersonic missiles can fly about five times faster than the speed of soundor more, and with a more complex trajectory than ballistics, which makes them difficult to shoot down.

Some members of the Japanese ruling party have been reiterating the suitability of enhancing the capabilities not only of interception of missilesbut to acquire counter-attack capabilities.

Government sources have previously leaked to the local media that, among other considerations, the acquisition is being evaluated, for example, of US Tomahawk cruise missiles while they finalize the manufacture of their own projectiles, although the details will be officially known with the new plan.

Russia has operational hypersonic missiles since 2019 and fired one from a submarine in 2021, while according to the Japanese Defense White Paper, China would have started using them in 2020.

The United States has not yet developed this type of projectile, in which it is currently working with the intention of deploying them in the middle of this decade, and Japan would seek for its part to develop its own hypersonic devices, Nikkei reported.

The Japanese Ministry of Defense has reportedly already begun work on the engine technology needed for these devices and is looking to dive into deeper research on hypersonic missiles in 2023, detailed the aforementioned newspaper.

The Executive led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to approve a new National Security Strategy towards the end of the year, in which the aforementioned concept of “counter-attack capabilities” would be formalized, among other innovations aimed at reinforcing the national military potential.

Within the framework of this rearmament trend, the Kishida Administration would seek to lay the foundations for a budget increase in the Defense item so that it progressively reaches around 2% of the Japanese gross domestic product, compared to the current 1%, which would place it at the level of spending by NATO countries.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.