MADRID, 13 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The governments of Japan and the United States have decided to jointly develop new missiles to intercept the hypersonic weapons being developed by China, Russia, and North Korea, and the agreement is expected to be reached at the Japan-United States summit to be held on June 18. of August.
The objective is to strengthen deterrence by advancing preparations for threats that are difficult to respond to with the existing anti-missile defense network, as reported by the Japanese newspaper ‘Yomiuri Shimbun’.
This information has been confirmed to this newspaper by various government officials and it will be the second development of an interceptor missile by both countries since SM Block 2A, which was completed in fiscal year 2017.
Hypersonic weapons travel at speeds five times faster than the speed of sound (Mach 5) and fly at low altitudes on irregular trajectories, making them difficult to detect with existing radar and therefore difficult to intercept.
China successfully launched its missile in July 2021, Russia has used it in its invasion of Ukraine, and North Korea has also conducted repeated launch tests since September 2021, with some analysts saying the test in January 2010 flew at a top speed of around Mach 10.
As a countermeasure, the Japanese Ministry of Defense is working to improve the capabilities of the Ground Self-Defense Force’s Type 03 medium-range surface-to-air missile (Chu-SAM) and new SM-6 missiles installed on Japan’s Aegis ships. Maritime Self Defense Force also have limited interception capabilities.
However, in any case, it is impossible to intercept up to the stage just before impact, and securing a means of intercepting at a longer distance is an urgent need.
