The missile, called the “new ship-to-air guided missile (新艦隊空誘導弾)” (or simply A-SAM) started development in FY 2017 and is expected to be ready to equip the JMSDF in FY 2024. The missiles will be fitted on JMSDF destroyers (DDs) and are specifically designed to shoot down enemy anti-ship missiles and aircraft.
The main body of the missile is based on the technology of the Type 03 medium-range surface-to-air missile (modified), which is currently being deployed by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), and the booster is based on the technology of the Type 07 VL-ASROC in service at the JMSDF.
A-SAM to bring Better range and “network shooting”
The most important features of this missile are its range and data link. Currently, JMSDF destroyers are equipped with ESSMs, but the new SAMs are intended to bring better range and extend the air defense coverage of the ships. The new SAM will also be equipped with a data link to enable network shooting. Network shooting is the firing and control of missiles based on radar information shared from other vessels.
To achieve this, a data link called the Fire Control (FC) network is currently under development, which aims to share radar information among destroyers (DDs). The U.S. Navy is equipped with a Data Distribution System (DDS) as a data link to achieve Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), but the JMSDF FC network has a slightly different purpose. While the CEC aims to intercept approaching missiles and other missiles as far away as possible, the FC network aims to efficiently intercept missiles that have slipped through the fleet’s air defenses.
In the JMSDF, which has no aircraft carrier, the key to the fleet’s air defense is the Aegis destroyer (DDG), which intercepts missiles closing in from outside the fleet with the SM-2, and the SM-6 in the future. However, in order to intercept missiles that have penetrated that air defense screen, destroyers (DDs) need to coordinate with each other. This is why the FC network and this new SAM are needed. Incidentally, JMSDF currently has two Maya-class DDGs that are capable of participating in the U.S. Navy’s CEC, and it is anticipated that they will serve as a gateway between the FC network and the CEC in the future.
The new A-SAM also aims to intercept not only missiles, but also to shoot down the enemy aircraft that launches the missiles themselves, with its long-range capability. In anticipation of future contingencies with the Chinese Navy, it will be essential to equip not only DDGs but also DDs with such long-range SAM.