Japan entwickelt Hyperschallwaffen

[theoderich]

Japan unveils its hypersonic weapons plans

In a Japanese-language document published on the Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency website, the government said two classes of standoff hypersonic systems will be deployed — the Hypersonic Cruise Missile (HCM) and the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile (HVGP).

The former will be powered by a scramjet engine and appears similar to a typical missile, albeit one that cruises at a much higher speed while capable of traveling at long ranges.

The HVGP, on the other hand, will feature a solid-fuel rocket engine that will boost its warhead payload to a high altitude before separation, where it will then glide to its target using its altitude to maintain high velocity until impact.

The agency also provided more details regarding warhead payloads, with different warheads planned for both seaborne and land targets. The former will be an armor-piercing warhead designed specifically for penetrating “the deck of the [aircraft] carrier,” while a land-attack version will utilize a high-density, explosively formed projectile, or EFP, for area suppression.

Area suppression effects for the latter will be achieved via the use of multiple EFPs, which are more commonly known as a shaped charge. An EFP is made up of a concave metal hemispherical or cone-shaped liner backed by a high explosive, all in a steel or aluminum casing. When the high explosive is detonated, the metal liner is compressed and squeezed forward, forming a jet whose tip may travel as fast as 6 miles per second.

Japan’s road map also revealed the country is taking an incremental approach with regard to designing the shapes of warheads and developing solid-fuel engine technology, with plans to field early versions of both in the 2024 to 2028 time frame. They are expected to enter service in the early 2030s.

The agency expects both systems to navigate via satellite navigation with an inertial navigation system as backup. Japan is seeking to establish a network of seven satellites to enable continuous positioning for its self-defense forces, which will enable it to provide continuous navigation data without relying on foreign satellites.

Warhead guidance is achieved via either radio-frequency imaging converted from doppler shift data — which the government agency said will be able to identify stealthy naval targets in all weather conditions — or an infrared seeker capable to discriminating specific targets.

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/te ... ons-plans/

研究開発ビジョン～多次元統合防衛力の実現とその先へ～（令和元年８月）

https://www.mod.go.jp/atla/soubiseisaku_vision.html

• 研究開発ビジョン～多次元統合防衛力の実現とその先へ～解説資料
  • スタンド・オフ防衛能力の取組
    
    https://www.mod.go.jp/atla/soubiseisaku ... etsu05.pdf

島嶼防衛用高速滑空弾の研究


https://www.mod.go.jp/atla/soubi_system.html

「スクラムジェットエンジンの研究




https://www.mod.go.jp/atla/kousouken.html

ヅ工ツト雑料 … Illustration of construction

燃料タノク … Fuel tank

弾頭 … Warhead

「スクラムジェットエンジンの研究」

将来の誘導弾への適用を目指し、従来のエンジン技術では実現できなかった高高度極超音速（マッハ５以上）巡航を可能とする「スクラムジェットエンジンの研究」を実施しています。

本研究では、装備品としての実現に留意し、従来までの研究の主流であった水素燃料に比べ、機体規模の小型化、入手性・貯蔵・取扱の容易さに大幅に優れる炭化水素燃料（ジェット燃料）を採用するとともに、超音速から極超音速までの幅広い速度域での作動を実現する、ラムモードとスクラムモードの２つのモードによるデュアルモード・スクラムジェットエンジンの実現を目指しています。

炭化水素燃料を用いたスクラムジェットエンジンの成立性の検証のため、ＪＡＸＡとの研究協力の下、燃焼試験を行い、ジェット燃料によるスクラム燃焼に成功するとともに、冷却系検討に資する基礎データを取得しました。

　これらの研究成果に基づき、実飛しょうを想定したスクラムジェットエンジンシステムの研究に取り組んでいます。

Scramjet engne research

With the aim of applying it to future guided missiles, we are conducting “Scramjet engine research” that enables high altitude hypersonic (Mach 5 or more) cruising that was not possible with conventional engine technology.

In this research, attention was paid to the realization as equipment, and compared to hydrogen fuel, which has been the mainstream of previous research, hydrocarbon fuel (which is significantly superior in miniaturization of the fuselage scale and ease of availability, storage, and handling ( We are aiming to realize a dual-mode scramjet engine with two modes, a ram mode and a scram mode, that operate in a wide speed range from supersonic to hypersonic speeds while adopting jet fuel.

Based on these research results, we are working on research on a scramjet engine system assuming actual flight.

[theoderich]

Japan's ATLA engages MHI on hypersonic missile projects

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) is partnering with Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) to develop hypersonic missile systems for the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), it has been confirmed to Janes.

A spokesperson from ATLA – an agency under the Ministry of Defense (MoD) – said the collaborative projects are geared towards meeting technology development milestones by the mid-2020s.

MHI’s Research & Innovation Center in Nagasaki operates a hypersonic wind tunnel, which is capable of simulating speeds beyond Mach 5. MHI has not commented on its related projects with ATLA, however.

The ATLA spokesperson said ATLA’s Air Systems Research Center (ASRC) has recently contracted MHI to “establish some elemental technologies” in the programme to develop a system ATLA refers to as a Hypersonic Cruise Missile (HCM). The research phase of this project, which started in fiscal year (FY) 2019, is initially focused on developing the HCM’s scramjet engine.

In another project, dubbed the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile (HVGP), the spokesperson said ATLA’s Joint Systems Development Division (JSDD) has contracted MHI to commence research activity, although no details were provided. The JSDD commenced research of technologies for the HVGP in FY 2018.

The spokesperson said that ATLA currently expects the HVGP to be inducted into the JSDF from 2026. A modified and improved version is expected to be introduced in the early 2030s. The spokesperson also said that technology development of the HCM is “scheduled to continue until 2025” but that it is currently “not assumed” that the weapon will be inducted into the JSDF.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news ... e-projects

[theoderich]

Japan signs $2.8 billion deals for long-range missile development

Japan’s Defense Ministry announced Tuesday it has signed contracts worth nearly 380 billion yen (U.S. $3 billion) with the country’s top defense contractor, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, to develop and mass produce long-range missiles for deployment as early as 2026.

The ministry said the contracts include enhanced versions of Mitsubishi’s Type 12 missiles for surface, sea and air launches, as well as a hypersonic ballistic missile for the defense of remote islands.

Mass production of Type 12 land-to-ship guided missiles and hypersonic gliding missiles, which are already developed, will begin this year, the ministry said. Officials refused to provide the number of missiles that Japan plans to deploy but indicated that production is expected to gradually increase over the next five years.

Due to limited space at home, Japan plans to hold predeployment missile tests at military bases in the United States, ministry officials said.

Another contract is for development of submarine-launched long-range anti-ship guided missiles, beginning this year and planned through 2027. Timing for their deployment is still undecided.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Japan is also buying 400 American-made long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles capable of hitting targets up to 1,600 kilometers (994 miles) away for deployment beginning in 2026.

The Tomahawks are a stopgap while Mitsubishi works to upgrade and extend the range of its missiles.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia ... velopment/