Japan’s Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) is looking to accelerate the government’s efforts to expand defence-related exports. ATLA is participating in the ongoing LIMA and showcasing Japan’s range of high-tech defence equipment. “We have to capture the opportunities arising out of the global developments, and promote overseas transfer of defence equipment and technology,” Kasugahara Daiki, assistant commissioner of ATLA told Daily News on the sidelines of DSEI Japan, held earlier this year.

ATLA is showcasing equipment in line with the seven necessary pillars of Japan’s defence strategy: stand-off defence capabilities, integrated air and missile defence capabilities, unmanned defence capabilities, cross-domain capabilities, command and control / intelligence-related functions, mobile deployment capabilities / civil protection, and sustainability and resiliency.

Japan Upgrading Military Technology

“Under the stand-off defence capabilities, Japan’s effort to develop a hypersonic system is at its initial research stage,” Daiki said, adding, “We envisage an early realisation of the system, and make it operational

within the next 10 years.” Various research and tests, including combustion flight tests, are being carried out aimed at developing scramjet engine technologies for the system,” Daiki said.

One of the planned military applications of this technology is the development of a hypersonic cruise missile, and high-speed glide bombs for island defence. “We also want to develop high-speed glide bombs, with long ranges and make them capable of traveling at supersonic speeds and high altitudes from various points in the country to deal with threats,” he said.

Daiki also explained that by FY2027, Japan will reinforce its capability to enable operation of stand-off missiles including surface-launched and ship-launched models. “We will develop upgraded Type-12 surface- to-ship guided missiles with the assumption that they will be operated from various platforms, to strengthen stand-off defence capability. We want the system to have longer range, and utilise them not only from ground, but also from air and sea,” he added.

Kawasaki Heavy Industry (KHI) is now working on a long-range surface launched cruise missile. “The ‘island defence anti-ship missile’ is in its R&D stage. We have proposed the concept to the (Japan’s) Ministry of Defence, and there is a good response to it. We will start the next stage of production once we get the go-ahead from the government,” Satoshi Hamada, manager, defence systems section, at Kawasaki Heavy Industries informed Daily News at DSEI Japan. 

The missile is in the making for the past five years and features large wings, four tail fins and has the engine intake below the airframe. “The state-of-the-art design and use of composite materials  is meant to give the missile sophisticated stealth capabilities,” Hamada said.  The subsonic cruise missile will be powered by the KHI’s newly developed KJ300 twin spool turbofan engine. The totally indigenous missile is expected to have a range of 1000 kilometres, and aims for low radar cross section, and high maneuverability, as well as high survivability in order to avoid interception by enemy air defence systems, she said.

“In the first stage, it is designed as a surface launched missile, but if the need arises we may have a ship launched and air launched derivatives,” Hamada explained.  Japan has been reinforcing its capability to enable operation of stand-off missiles including surface-launched and ship-launched models, and the government has been encouraging local private companies  to secure sufficient capability toward increased production of domestic stand-off missile. 

To this end, by FY2027, Japan has decided to reinforce the capabilities of warning and control radar and surface-to-air missiles.

Maritime Offerings

The next generation off-shore patrol vessels (OPV) that will be operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) will be launched in the next two to three years, Daiki informed. The OPV, being built by primary contractor Japan Marine United (JMU), will have advanced stealth technology and ballistic missile management system, he added.

In July 2021 ATLA had announced a project for a new fleet of 12 OPVs. Several countries in the region are showing keen interest in the shipboard Unicorn, the unified complex radio antenna, Daiki said. Unicorn is the Nora-50 integration mast, which has a bar-shaped dome that houses the antennas for tactical data link, tactical air navigation system (TACAN), and communications. It downsizes the antennae on the top of the mast. The shape is designed to reduce the radar cross section, which gives it stealth capability.

“Last year, the brand new 3900-ton type frigate was launched for the JMSDF with the integrated mast Unicorn, which helps the vessel in achieving advanced stealth capability. A total of four ships of the Mogami-class are currently integrated with this system,” he added. The system can also be integrated to the future OPVs.

To establish a multi-layered surveillance posture, to secure underwater and maritime superiority, and to reduce loss of human resources, the MSDF has introduced various unmanned assets, such as UAVs, USVs including the use of existing manned vessels, and UUV, as well as newly establishing unmanned asset units. “For the first time, our autonomous underwater vehicle of mine countermeasures Beluga OZZ-5 will soon be integrated with the new 30FFM frigate for anti-mine warfare. The system, which is developed jointly with France, can detect all targets, including bottom mines, buried mines and stealth

bottomed mines,” he said.

Export Prospects

The export demand for the long-range fixed type air surveillance radar has gone up following the first international order from the Philippines for the FPS-3 ME and TPS-P14ME medium-range mobile-type air

surveillance radars. “We want more countries to buy this system. The Philippines have shown interest

in acquiring more units,” he said. Mitsubishi Electric Corporation will complete the delivery of air surveillance radars ordered by the Philippines, later this year. Speaking to Daily News at the recently concluded DSEI, a Mitsubishi Electric Corporation official said the deliveries of the air surveillance radars to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) would be completed this Spring. Mitsubishi Electric Corporation is supplying four air surveillance radar systems to the PAF under the latter’s Horizon 2 Air Surveillance Radar System (ASRS) Acquisition Project. Deliveries of the radars to the Philippines began in 2022. The planned ASRS sites will cover large areas of the Philippine Rise, Southern Areas of the country, and the Southern portion of the West Philippine Sea and allow the Philippine Air Force to provide optimal airspace monitoring, aircraft control, perform its air defence mission and enhance the security in ‘Areas of Interest’ identified by the DND. Japan and the Philippines had announced a Government to-Government for the radars in a deal worth USD 103 million in August 2020. The deal includes supply of three fixed long-range air surveillance radars, each with building facilities and one mobile air surveillance radar.