New weapon or the first step to hypersound? Project High-speed Gliding Missile (Japan)
According to the latest reports from the Japanese press and officials, Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Forces intend to develop a new guided weapons complex capable of solving a wide range of combat missions. To combat various targets, a missile complex with the working title High-speed Gliding Missile is proposed. The current plans of the Japanese command stipulate that ready-made samples of this type will go into service in the 2026 year, and in the future the Self-Defense Forces will receive weapon improved modification.
The first information about the possibility of developing a promising missile system with special capabilities for the Land Forces of Japan’s self-defense appeared a few months ago, but then the new development featured only at the level of rumors. The situation with the data on the new weapon system changed at the end of September, when the first specific reports appeared. A little later, in October, the Japanese press published sufficiently detailed information about the new project. The approximate technical shape of the future rocket complex, the cost of its development, the timing of work, etc. have become known.
According to Japanese official sources and the media, work on the creation of new missile weapons has already begun. Several Japanese scientific and industrial organizations have been involved in the development of the project, but the exact list of program participants has not yet been clarified. At the same time, a curious feature of the project is noted. The new missile system may be the first in the post-war stories Japan, a model of missile weapons, developed completely independently and without the involvement of third countries.
A promising project so far known as HSGM or High-speed Gliding Missile - “High-speed planning rocket”. Perhaps, in the future, a new designation will be introduced, but the existing name perfectly reflects the essence of the project, as well as the principles of operation of prospective weapons.
Press reports state that the HSGM project provides for the construction of a ground-based missile carrying special combat equipment. The proposed construction of the product, including a rocket and high-speed gliding aircraft. The rocket stage must be equipped with engines and be responsible for the initial acceleration of the glider and its output to the desired trajectory. A combat glider stage that does not have its own power plant will have to make a non-motorized flight and attack a designated target.
The main part of the technical features of the future missile system has not yet been clarified. It is possible that some features of the technical appearance are still uncertain, and they will have to be formed in the near future. Nevertheless, the basic principles of building a complex, the general architecture and methods of its combat work are already known and published.
The launch of a new type of missile should be carried out with a ground launcher. Probably, a mobile complex on a self-propelled chassis will be used. With the help of the rocket stage, the product must rise to a considerable height and develop supersonic speed. After reaching the specified trajectory, the combat stage, made in the form of a supersonic gliding aircraft, should be discharged.
The airframe must be equipped with its own guidance and control tools to ensure its access to the target. So far, only the use of a satellite navigation guidance system has been mentioned. This means that the HSGM complex will be able to attack only targets with previously known coordinates. It is not specified yet whether the project will introduce new guidance tools that can independently search for targets. Defeat the target will be made using a conventional charge. Perhaps it will be a one-piece high-explosive fragmentation warhead.
Japanese media claim that the High-speed Gliding Missile program will create two versions of the combat stage with a different appearance and, accordingly, different characteristics. First, it is planned to develop a simplified design with less high performance. Then, an improved modification of the HSGM will have to come into service. The first modification of the airframe can be based on existing solutions and technologies, which will result in less complexity. To create the second, a series of studies is needed.
The first modification of the HSGM, as reported, will have a combat stage with a cylindrical body and a conical or lively head fairing. Such a body will be equipped with several planes for the formation of lift and control. The proposed design of the first type will be able to show only the limited characteristics of the non-motorized flight. First of all, it will have to limit the flight speed and firing range.
In the future, a new combat stage with a more perfect hull will have to appear. In this case, a body with a short cylindrical tail and an elongated flat nose assembly will be used. It is expected that this design will allow to develop a higher speed. In addition, due to the improved characteristics of planning will be able to increase the range in comparison with the first version of the rocket.
Both variants of the combat stage will receive similar equipment for control and destruction of the target. In both cases, it is proposed to use satellite navigation and conventional combat units. However, the design differences of the planning aircraft can affect the composition of the internal equipment and its functions.
Despite the characteristic technical appearance, the promising HSGM complex will not fall into the category of hypersonic weapons. Japan does not yet have the necessary technology and can not build a system of this class. In this regard, the new Japanese weapons will show more modest characteristics. In flight, High-speed Gliding Missile will develop only supersonic speed. In this case, the exact speed indicators have not yet been clarified. This means that in flight the glider can accelerate to both M = 1 and M = 4. The characteristic appearance of the second version of the combat stage suggests that its speed characteristics can approach the upper limit of this range.
The firing range is still determined in the range from 300 to 500 km. Perhaps the first HSGM version with a less advanced combat grade will show a reduced range. In the future, with the appearance of an improved glider, the firing range will be able to reach the declared 500 km. However, at the design stage of the project, Japanese designers may encounter various problems, which will affect the real characteristics of the system.
Already determined the cost of the program and the timing of its implementation. Moreover, according to recent reports, the development of a new missile system has already started. According to the Japanese press, 2018 billion yen was allocated to the HSGM project in the 4,6 fiscal year (more than 40,6 million US dollars). The total cost of the program will be 18,4 billion (over 160 million dollars). This amount is planned to spend on development work. The budget for mass production and operation of rocket complexes has not yet been clarified.
According to the established schedule, the next few years will be spent on research and design. The first flight of the missile with a combat stage of a simplified design is still scheduled for 2025 year. With the successful completion of tests and refinements, already in 2026, the first version of the HSGM missile system will be able to go into service and go into mass production. Then it is planned to begin the deployment of systems in important areas.
The second phase of work, which envisages the creation of an improved combat stage, will continue for several more years. A flat nose supersonic glider is scheduled to be adopted in the 2028 year. How the command plans to operate unified complexes with different capabilities is not specified. Perhaps such questions still remain unanswered.
Until the appearance of a promising missile system with a planning combat stage, it remains several years, but attempts are already being made to assess the potential of such weapons, as well as their influence on the combat capability of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the situation in the Asia-Pacific region. Obviously, the appearance of a missile system with a range of up to 500 km can seriously affect the situation. With proper selection of areas of deployment, the new HSGM complex will be able to control large regions, including disputed territories.
First of all, it should be noted that the Japan Self-Defense Forces are currently lacking ground-based missile systems with a firing range of more than 250 km. At the same time, most of the drill systems show lower performance. It is obvious that the High-speed Gliding Missile complex with a range of at least 300 km will seriously increase the combat capability of the rocket forces, increasing their area of responsibility.
Considerable firing range allows you to control large areas. For example, when placing complex HSGM on. Okinawa, Japanese troops have the opportunity to attack targets in the area of the Senkaku Islands. Japan, Taiwan and China are claiming these territories, and with the availability of new weapons, Tokyo will be able to strengthen its position in this dispute. In addition, with the help of promising missiles, it will be possible to control a large region around the Japanese islands, threatening land and surface targets of a potential enemy.
It should be noted that the characteristic technical appearance of the High-speed Gliding Missile missile is capable of ensuring sufficient effectiveness of combat work. In addition to high speed and range, the potential of the complex is affected by equipping the combat stage with control systems. She will be able to maneuver during the flight, which, to a certain extent, will make interception difficult. The impossibility of predicting the flight trajectory will not allow the use of existing missile defense systems designed to combat ballistic missiles against HSGM.
However, the proposed missile system is not without flaws. Some of its features, simplifying development and production, may adversely affect the real combat potential. First of all, it is necessary to note the fact that the planning aircraft of the HSGM rocket will be able to develop only supersonic speed. Many modern anti-aircraft missile systems are able to detect and destroy maneuvering aerodynamic objects at supersonic speeds. Of course, such an interception is not the easiest task, but its solution is quite realistic.
From the point of view of the main features of the architecture and the specifics of its application, the Japanese HSGM complex is similar to modern foreign hypersonic systems that are at the stage of development and testing. At the same time, the Japanese project is losing overseas at the estimated flight speed and firing range. In addition, it is necessary to take into account that modern air defense and missile defense systems cannot effectively deal with maneuvering hypersonic aircraft. This is one of the main differences between HSGM and more ambitious projects.
Some similarities with advanced modern projects leads to certain thoughts. The current HSGM project can be created not only to exploit and increase the combat capability of the rocket forces. It can also be the first step towards a full hypersonic weapon. Based on the technologies and developments of the existing project, the Japanese industry in the future may create a completely new sample with special characteristics. Nevertheless, any reliable information about the Japanese work in the field of hypersonic technology is not yet available. Perhaps such projects will appear only in the medium term.
At the moment, the Japanese project of the High-speed Gliding Missile missile complex looks ambiguous. Published data show that the Self-Defense Forces can be equipped with a mobile system with a significant firing range and a rocket of unusual appearance capable of attacking various targets. At the same time, the project is based on a special idea involving the use of a supersonic planning combat stage. Even a superficial analysis of data on the HSGM project shows that such weapons may have ambiguous prospects. The advantages in the form of long range and maneuvering capabilities can be leveled by a relatively low airspeed, facilitating interception.
Despite the specific look and ambiguous perspectives, the High-speed Gliding Missile project is of some interest and should be monitored. Perhaps the Japanese industry will be able to fulfill all the wishes of the customer in the person of the Ministry of Defense and create an effective missile system with special capabilities. At the same time, one should not expect that HSGM will become an outstanding system with a unique combat potential. However, this project can earn at least one honorary title. Subject to the successful completion of the work, the new missile system will become the first model of its kind created by Japan independently and without foreign assistance.
On the materials of the sites:
https://japantimes.co.jp/
http://defenseworld.net/
https://mainichi.jp/
https://inosmi.ru/
http://thedrive.com/
The first information about the possibility of developing a promising missile system with special capabilities for the Land Forces of Japan’s self-defense appeared a few months ago, but then the new development featured only at the level of rumors. The situation with the data on the new weapon system changed at the end of September, when the first specific reports appeared. A little later, in October, the Japanese press published sufficiently detailed information about the new project. The approximate technical shape of the future rocket complex, the cost of its development, the timing of work, etc. have become known.
According to Japanese official sources and the media, work on the creation of new missile weapons has already begun. Several Japanese scientific and industrial organizations have been involved in the development of the project, but the exact list of program participants has not yet been clarified. At the same time, a curious feature of the project is noted. The new missile system may be the first in the post-war stories Japan, a model of missile weapons, developed completely independently and without the involvement of third countries.
A promising project so far known as HSGM or High-speed Gliding Missile - “High-speed planning rocket”. Perhaps, in the future, a new designation will be introduced, but the existing name perfectly reflects the essence of the project, as well as the principles of operation of prospective weapons.
Press reports state that the HSGM project provides for the construction of a ground-based missile carrying special combat equipment. The proposed construction of the product, including a rocket and high-speed gliding aircraft. The rocket stage must be equipped with engines and be responsible for the initial acceleration of the glider and its output to the desired trajectory. A combat glider stage that does not have its own power plant will have to make a non-motorized flight and attack a designated target.
The main part of the technical features of the future missile system has not yet been clarified. It is possible that some features of the technical appearance are still uncertain, and they will have to be formed in the near future. Nevertheless, the basic principles of building a complex, the general architecture and methods of its combat work are already known and published.
The launch of a new type of missile should be carried out with a ground launcher. Probably, a mobile complex on a self-propelled chassis will be used. With the help of the rocket stage, the product must rise to a considerable height and develop supersonic speed. After reaching the specified trajectory, the combat stage, made in the form of a supersonic gliding aircraft, should be discharged.
The airframe must be equipped with its own guidance and control tools to ensure its access to the target. So far, only the use of a satellite navigation guidance system has been mentioned. This means that the HSGM complex will be able to attack only targets with previously known coordinates. It is not specified yet whether the project will introduce new guidance tools that can independently search for targets. Defeat the target will be made using a conventional charge. Perhaps it will be a one-piece high-explosive fragmentation warhead.
Japanese media claim that the High-speed Gliding Missile program will create two versions of the combat stage with a different appearance and, accordingly, different characteristics. First, it is planned to develop a simplified design with less high performance. Then, an improved modification of the HSGM will have to come into service. The first modification of the airframe can be based on existing solutions and technologies, which will result in less complexity. To create the second, a series of studies is needed.
The first modification of the HSGM, as reported, will have a combat stage with a cylindrical body and a conical or lively head fairing. Such a body will be equipped with several planes for the formation of lift and control. The proposed design of the first type will be able to show only the limited characteristics of the non-motorized flight. First of all, it will have to limit the flight speed and firing range.
In the future, a new combat stage with a more perfect hull will have to appear. In this case, a body with a short cylindrical tail and an elongated flat nose assembly will be used. It is expected that this design will allow to develop a higher speed. In addition, due to the improved characteristics of planning will be able to increase the range in comparison with the first version of the rocket.
Both variants of the combat stage will receive similar equipment for control and destruction of the target. In both cases, it is proposed to use satellite navigation and conventional combat units. However, the design differences of the planning aircraft can affect the composition of the internal equipment and its functions.
Despite the characteristic technical appearance, the promising HSGM complex will not fall into the category of hypersonic weapons. Japan does not yet have the necessary technology and can not build a system of this class. In this regard, the new Japanese weapons will show more modest characteristics. In flight, High-speed Gliding Missile will develop only supersonic speed. In this case, the exact speed indicators have not yet been clarified. This means that in flight the glider can accelerate to both M = 1 and M = 4. The characteristic appearance of the second version of the combat stage suggests that its speed characteristics can approach the upper limit of this range.
The firing range is still determined in the range from 300 to 500 km. Perhaps the first HSGM version with a less advanced combat grade will show a reduced range. In the future, with the appearance of an improved glider, the firing range will be able to reach the declared 500 km. However, at the design stage of the project, Japanese designers may encounter various problems, which will affect the real characteristics of the system.
Already determined the cost of the program and the timing of its implementation. Moreover, according to recent reports, the development of a new missile system has already started. According to the Japanese press, 2018 billion yen was allocated to the HSGM project in the 4,6 fiscal year (more than 40,6 million US dollars). The total cost of the program will be 18,4 billion (over 160 million dollars). This amount is planned to spend on development work. The budget for mass production and operation of rocket complexes has not yet been clarified.
According to the established schedule, the next few years will be spent on research and design. The first flight of the missile with a combat stage of a simplified design is still scheduled for 2025 year. With the successful completion of tests and refinements, already in 2026, the first version of the HSGM missile system will be able to go into service and go into mass production. Then it is planned to begin the deployment of systems in important areas.
The second phase of work, which envisages the creation of an improved combat stage, will continue for several more years. A flat nose supersonic glider is scheduled to be adopted in the 2028 year. How the command plans to operate unified complexes with different capabilities is not specified. Perhaps such questions still remain unanswered.
Until the appearance of a promising missile system with a planning combat stage, it remains several years, but attempts are already being made to assess the potential of such weapons, as well as their influence on the combat capability of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the situation in the Asia-Pacific region. Obviously, the appearance of a missile system with a range of up to 500 km can seriously affect the situation. With proper selection of areas of deployment, the new HSGM complex will be able to control large regions, including disputed territories.
First of all, it should be noted that the Japan Self-Defense Forces are currently lacking ground-based missile systems with a firing range of more than 250 km. At the same time, most of the drill systems show lower performance. It is obvious that the High-speed Gliding Missile complex with a range of at least 300 km will seriously increase the combat capability of the rocket forces, increasing their area of responsibility.
Considerable firing range allows you to control large areas. For example, when placing complex HSGM on. Okinawa, Japanese troops have the opportunity to attack targets in the area of the Senkaku Islands. Japan, Taiwan and China are claiming these territories, and with the availability of new weapons, Tokyo will be able to strengthen its position in this dispute. In addition, with the help of promising missiles, it will be possible to control a large region around the Japanese islands, threatening land and surface targets of a potential enemy.
It should be noted that the characteristic technical appearance of the High-speed Gliding Missile missile is capable of ensuring sufficient effectiveness of combat work. In addition to high speed and range, the potential of the complex is affected by equipping the combat stage with control systems. She will be able to maneuver during the flight, which, to a certain extent, will make interception difficult. The impossibility of predicting the flight trajectory will not allow the use of existing missile defense systems designed to combat ballistic missiles against HSGM.
However, the proposed missile system is not without flaws. Some of its features, simplifying development and production, may adversely affect the real combat potential. First of all, it is necessary to note the fact that the planning aircraft of the HSGM rocket will be able to develop only supersonic speed. Many modern anti-aircraft missile systems are able to detect and destroy maneuvering aerodynamic objects at supersonic speeds. Of course, such an interception is not the easiest task, but its solution is quite realistic.
From the point of view of the main features of the architecture and the specifics of its application, the Japanese HSGM complex is similar to modern foreign hypersonic systems that are at the stage of development and testing. At the same time, the Japanese project is losing overseas at the estimated flight speed and firing range. In addition, it is necessary to take into account that modern air defense and missile defense systems cannot effectively deal with maneuvering hypersonic aircraft. This is one of the main differences between HSGM and more ambitious projects.
Some similarities with advanced modern projects leads to certain thoughts. The current HSGM project can be created not only to exploit and increase the combat capability of the rocket forces. It can also be the first step towards a full hypersonic weapon. Based on the technologies and developments of the existing project, the Japanese industry in the future may create a completely new sample with special characteristics. Nevertheless, any reliable information about the Japanese work in the field of hypersonic technology is not yet available. Perhaps such projects will appear only in the medium term.
At the moment, the Japanese project of the High-speed Gliding Missile missile complex looks ambiguous. Published data show that the Self-Defense Forces can be equipped with a mobile system with a significant firing range and a rocket of unusual appearance capable of attacking various targets. At the same time, the project is based on a special idea involving the use of a supersonic planning combat stage. Even a superficial analysis of data on the HSGM project shows that such weapons may have ambiguous prospects. The advantages in the form of long range and maneuvering capabilities can be leveled by a relatively low airspeed, facilitating interception.
Despite the specific look and ambiguous perspectives, the High-speed Gliding Missile project is of some interest and should be monitored. Perhaps the Japanese industry will be able to fulfill all the wishes of the customer in the person of the Ministry of Defense and create an effective missile system with special capabilities. At the same time, one should not expect that HSGM will become an outstanding system with a unique combat potential. However, this project can earn at least one honorary title. Subject to the successful completion of the work, the new missile system will become the first model of its kind created by Japan independently and without foreign assistance.
On the materials of the sites:
https://japantimes.co.jp/
http://defenseworld.net/
https://mainichi.jp/
https://inosmi.ru/
http://thedrive.com/
- Ryabov Kirill
- Mainichi.jp
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