Japan to develop hypersonic guided missiles

The Japanese Ministry of Defense has included funding for new hypersonic guided missiles in its FY2027 budget as part of its efforts to enhance counterstrike capabilities. Developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, these missiles will utilize scramjet engines to achieve speeds exceeding Mach 5. Unlike the Type 25 high-speed glide vehicle, these missiles are classified as cruise missiles that use unpredictable flight paths to evade interception.

The missiles are expected to have a range of 2,000 to 3,000 km, potentially covering mainland China and the Southwest Islands. Japan is also working on a submarine-launched version to increase stealth and surprise capabilities. If successful, the development—slated for completion by 2031—could represent a world-first in the practical application of scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missiles.