According to the latest reports from the Japanese press and officials, the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces intend to develop a new complex of guided weapons capable of solving a wide range of combat missions. To combat various targets, a missile system is proposed with the working name High-speed Gliding Missile. The current plans of the Japanese command envisage that ready-made samples of this type will enter service in 2026, and in the future the Self-Defense Forces will receive improved weapons.
The first information about the possibility of developing a promising missile system with special capabilities for the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces appeared several months ago, but then the new development appeared 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 quite detailed information about the new project. The approximate technical appearance 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 specified. At the same time, an interesting feature of the project is noted. The new missile system may turn out to be the first model of missile weapons in Japan's post-war history, developed completely independently and without the involvement of third countries.
A promising project is still known as HSGM or High-speed Gliding Missile - "High-speed gliding missile". 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 promising weapons.
Press publications claim that the HSGM project provides for the construction of a ground-based missile carrying special combat equipment. The construction of a product is proposed, including a rocket and a high-speed gliding aircraft. The rocket stage must be equipped with engines and be responsible for the initial acceleration of the airframe and its output to the required trajectory. A combat glider stage, which does not have its own power plant, will have to fly without a motor and attack the designated target.
The main part of the technical features of the future missile system has not yet been specified. It is possible that some of the features of the technical appearance are still uncertain, and they have to be formed in the near future. Nevertheless, the basic principles of building the complex, the general architecture and methods of its combat work are already known and published.
The launch of a rocket of a new type should be carried out from a ground-based launcher. Probably, a mobile complex on a self-propelled chassis will be used. With the help of a rocket stage, the product must rise to a considerable height and develop supersonic speed. After reaching a given trajectory, the combat stage, made in the form of a supersonic gliding aircraft, should be dropped.
The glider must be equipped with its own guidance and control means, ensuring its output to the specified target. So far, only the use of a guidance system based on satellite navigation has been mentioned. This means that the HSGM complex will be able to attack only targets with previously known coordinates. It has not yet been specified whether new guidance means capable of independently searching for targets will be introduced into the project. The target will be hit with a conventional charge. Perhaps we will talk about a monoblock high-explosive fragmentation warhead.
The Japanese media claim that under the High-speed Gliding Missile program, two variants of the combat stage will be created with a different appearance and, accordingly, different characteristics. At first, it is planned to develop a simplified design with lower performance. Then, an improved modification of the HSGM will have to enter service. The first modification of the airframe can be based on existing solutions and technologies, due to which it will be less complex. To create the second, it is necessary to conduct a number of studies.
The first modification of the HSGM will reportedly have a combat stage with a cylindrical body and a conical or ogival head fairing. Such a body will be equipped with several planes to generate lift and control. The proposed design of the first type will be able to show only limited characteristics of non-motorized flight. First of all, this will have to limit the flight speed and firing range.
In the future, a new combat stage with a more advanced hull will have to appear. In this case, a body with a short cylindrical tail section and an elongated flat nose assembly will be used. It is expected that this design will allow for higher speeds. In addition, due to the improved gliding characteristics, it will be possible to increase the range in comparison with the first version of the rocket.
Both variants of the combat stage will receive similar equipment for controlling and destroying the target. In both cases, it is proposed to use satellite navigation and conventional warheads. However, the design differences of gliding aircraft can affect the composition of the internal equipment and its functions.
Despite the characteristic technical appearance, the promising HSGM complex will not belong to the category of hypersonic weapons. Japan does not yet have the necessary technologies and cannot build a system of this class. In this regard, the new Japanese weapons will show more modest characteristics. In flight, the High-speed Gliding Missile will only develop at supersonic speed. At the same time, the exact speed indicators have not yet been specified. This means that in flight the glider will be able to accelerate to both M = 1 and M = 4. The characteristic appearance of the second version of the combat stage suggests that its speed characteristics will be able to 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 variant with a less advanced combat stage will show a reduced range. In the future, with the appearance of an improved airframe, the firing range will be able to reach the declared 500 km. However, at the stage of project development, Japanese designers may encounter certain problems, which will affect the real characteristics of the system.
The cost of the program and the terms of its implementation have already been determined. Moreover, according to the latest reports, the development of a new missile system has already started. According to Japanese press reports, in the 2018 financial year, 4.6 billion yen (more than 40.6 million US dollars) was allocated for the HSGM project. The total cost of the program will be 18.4 billion (over $ 160 million). This amount is planned to be spent on development work. The budget for the serial production and operation of missile systems has not yet been specified.
According to the established schedule, the next few years will be spent on research and design. The first flight of a rocket with a combat stage of a simplified design is still scheduled for 2025. With the successful completion of tests and development, already in 2026, the HSGM missile system of the first version will be able to enter service and go into mass production. At the same time, it is planned to start deploying systems in important areas.
The second stage of work, providing for the creation of an improved combat stage, will continue for several more years. A supersonic glider with a "flat nose" is scheduled to enter service in 2028. How the command plans to operate unified complexes with different capabilities is not specified. Perhaps such questions still remain unanswered.
Several years remain until the emergence of a promising missile system with a planning combat stage, but attempts are already being made to assess the potential of such weapons, as well as its impact on the combat capability of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the situation in the Asia-Pacific region. It is obvious that the appearance of a missile system with a firing range of up to 500 km can seriously affect the situation. With the right choice 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 at the moment there are no ground-based missile systems with a firing range of more than 250 km in service with the Japan Self-Defense Forces. At the same time, most combat systems show less high performance. It is obvious that the High-speed Gliding Missile complex with a range of at least 300 km will seriously increase the combat effectiveness of the missile forces, increasing their area of responsibility.
The significant firing range allows you to control large areas. For example, when placing the HSGM complex on the island. Okinawa Japanese troops get the opportunity to attack targets in the area of the Senkaku Islands. These territories are claimed by Japan, Taiwan and China, 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 ground and surface targets of a potential enemy.
It should be noted that the characteristic technical appearance of the High-speed Gliding Missile is capable of providing sufficient combat effectiveness. In addition to high speed and range, the complex's potential is affected by equipping the combat stage with control systems. She will be able to maneuver during the flight, which will make interception difficult to some extent. The inability to predict the flight path will prevent the use of existing anti-ballistic missile defense systems against HSGM.
However, the proposed missile system is not without its drawbacks. Some of its features, simplifying development and production, can negatively affect the real combat potential. First of all, it should be noted that the gliding aircraft from the HSGM rocket can only develop supersonic speed. Many modern anti-aircraft missile systems are capable of detecting and destroying maneuvering aerodynamic objects at supersonic speed. Of course, such interception is not the easiest task, but its solution is quite feasible.
From the point of view of the main features of the architecture and the specifics of the application, the Japanese HSGM complex is similar to modern foreign hypersonic systems that are under development and testing. At the same time, the Japanese project loses to foreign ones in terms of estimated flight speeds and firing range. In addition, it must be borne in mind 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 bolder projects.
Some similarities with cutting-edge modern projects are suggestive. The current HSGM project can be created not only for the operation and increasing the combat capability of the missile forces. It could also be the first step towards a full-fledged hypersonic weapon. Based on the technologies and developments on the existing project, the Japanese industry in the future can create a completely new sample with special characteristics. Nevertheless, there is no reliable information about Japanese work in the field of hypersonic technology so far. Perhaps such projects will appear only in the medium term.
At the moment, the Japanese project of the High-speed Gliding Missile missile system looks ambiguous. Published data show that the Self-Defense Forces may be armed with a mobile system with a significant firing range and an unusual-looking missile capable of attacking various targets. At the same time, the project is based on a special idea involving the use of a supersonic gliding combat stage. Even a cursory analysis of the data on the HSGM project shows that such a weapon may have ambiguous prospects. The advantages of long range and maneuvering ability can be offset by the relatively low airspeed, which makes interception easier.
Despite the specific look and ambiguous prospects, the High-speed Gliding Missile project is of certain interest, and it is worth keeping an eye on it. 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, do not expect HSGM to become an outstanding system with 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 example of its kind, created by Japan independently and without outside help.
