Hypersonic Guided Missiles

Japan's Ministry of Defense announced mass production of hypersonic guided missiles beginning FY2026, with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries leading production of the Block 1 ground-launched variant. These missiles fly at Mach 5+ (over 6,000 km/h), making them extremely difficult to intercept with current missile defense systems. The program is complemented by upgraded Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles with extended range for air-launched deployment from F-2 fighters by FY2027.

The hypersonic missile program is part of Japan's broader 'stand-off defense' strategy — the ability to strike threats before they reach Japanese territory. This represents a fundamental shift from Japan's traditional exclusively-defensive posture. The Ministry of Defense's record budget for FY2026 includes substantial allocations for hypersonic weapons, long-range cruise missiles (including 400 US Tomahawk Block-5 as interim capability), and unmanned combat systems.

Japan is simultaneously developing hypersonic missile interceptors — Mitsubishi signed a ¥56 billion ($366 million) contract for an interceptor system due for completion by March 2029. This dual development (offensive hypersonic + defensive counter-hypersonic) positions Japan as one of the few nations pursuing both sides of the hypersonic equation, alongside the US, Russia, and China.