US and Japan want a missile defence system to intercept hypersonic weapons
Advances in hypersonic weapons by China and russia are forcing the U.S. to look for ways to counter missiles capable of reaching speeds greater than Mach 5 (6,174 km/h). Japan could help the Pentagon in this.
Here's What We Know
The U.S. and Japan have begun exploring the possibility of working together on a missile defence system to intercept hypersonic air threats. The Pentagon has already begun the initial stages of the project, the final product of which would be an interceptor capable of neutralizing hypersonic threats during the glide phase.
Vice Admiral John Hill, head of the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), confirmed last week that the organisation is considering collaborating with Japan to work on the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI). At the moment, developing the interceptor is one of the agency's top priorities.
Japan and the United States are successfully working on the Standard Missile 3 Block IIA. The specialists in the Land of the Rising Sun are responsible for the construction of the second and third stages of the missile. It is possible that Japan will have a larger role in the new project.
However, the work is complicated by the fact that Northrop Grumman and Raytheon are competing for the right to build the GPI. Both companies were awarded new contracts last summer to develop hypersonic weapons interceptors. That means Japan has to register for two different designs, knowing in advance that one of them will go in the bin.
Defeating hypersonic weapons in the glide phase is a complex technical problem. This is because the missiles can travel at five times the speed of sound (343 m/s). In addition, they can manoeuvre in flight, which creates additional difficulties in predicting the missile's trajectory.
The MDA is in the early stages of GPI development. The agency has requested $209 million in fiscal year 2024 to fund the project. The hypersonic weapons interceptor is expected to be ready by the early 2030s. The GPI will be designed to fit into US Navy destroyers with the Aegis missile defence system.
Source: Defence News