Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MOD) has announced the future equipment on which it will invest in research and development work over the next few years. The information came out in the recently published defense budget request. This article introduces some of them, especially those related to the naval domain.
Combat Support Multipurpose USV
Combat support multipurpose USVs are large unmanned surface vessels (USVs) that deal with enemy naval vessels and submarines in support of manned vessels. It can be operated autonomously or remotely from a land-based control facility (remote bridge) via satellite communications, and furthermore, it aims to automatically operate in rough weather and respond to malfunctions. It is also intended to share operational data and other information with other USVs in order to conduct coordinated activities.
The USV will seek to replace payloads (mission module) such as sensors, anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes, depending on the mission. The USV also aims to evade enemy threats by submerging itself in the water. The research will be conducted from FY2024 to FY2027, and in In parallel, tests will be conducted from FY2026 to FY2030.
Unmanned Amphibious Vehicle
The unmanned amphibious vehicle is intended to land on an enemy-held island to secure Beachhead ahead of a manned Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV). The highest risk during landing operations is during the landing phase, and usually AAVs respond by increasing their speed, etc. Japan aims to ensure safety by using unmanned vehicles ahead of manned vehicles. This can also be used to transport supplies after troops have landed, thereby ensuring the logistics of the operation with fewer personnel. In addition to autonomous decision-making through AI technology, remote control by a manned AAV will also be possible.
The development of the vehicle must have the ability to overcome the reefs that are common on the islands of Japan, which requires powerful propulsion. For this reason, electric power-assist technology is incorporated to make the chassis more compact and to secure space inside the vehicle. It is also expected that the technology obtained from the AAV (manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries), which is already under development, will be utilized. Prototyping will take place from FY2024 to FY2026, with testing to take place in FY2027.
Anti-torpedo torpedo (ATT)
The Type 12 torpedo began deployment in 2012 and is operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) on destroyers, SH-60Ks, and P-1 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). To this Type 12 torpedo, JMSDF will now add the ability to physically neutralize high-performance torpedoes launched by enemy submarines. Previously, the JMSDF has improved soft-kill means of neutralizing torpedoes launched by enemy submarines by means of acoustic jammers and decoys. However, high-performance torpedoes that neighboring countries may deploy in the future may be difficult to neutralize with acoustic decoys and jammers. Therefore, hard-kill means to physically neutralize them are needed.
In this program, not only the capability of Type 12 torpedoes will be improved and upgraded, but also the sonar of destroyers equipped with Type 12 torpedoes will be improved to detect enemy torpedoes at an early stage and to transmit this information to the launch tubes of the Type 12 torpedoes. Prototypes will be built from FY2024 to FY2028, and further testing will be conducted from FY2025 to FY2029.
Japan countering hypersonic threats
Currently, Japan is under pressure to respond to hypersonic weapons. In particular, dealing with Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) and Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV), which target naval vessels, is an urgent issue. Therefore, Japan decided to jointly develop the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) with the U.S. In addition to this, Japan also decided to develop a domestically produced system to be installed on future destroyers.
New multi-band radar
First, a new type of radar that detects high-speed, highly maneuverable, and small targets will be developed. This is a multi-band phased array radar that detects distant targets in the S-band and relatively close targets in the X-band. This is expected to be a scalable radar that can be sized to fit the power generation capacity and size of the vessel. Gallium nitride technology will also be used to increase power of radar. Development will take place from FY2024 to FY2028, and testing will be conducted from FY2029 to FY2030.
New Combat Management System
Next, a new Combat Management System (CMS) for destroyers will be developed. The idea is to develop a system that is scalable to integrate new equipment in the future, in addition to making decisions faster and more accurately with fewer people in anticipation of a shrinking population. Scalability will be ensured through open architecture, while faster and accurate decision-making and operational planning will be achieved through AI support. In this context, it will integrate radar and other sensor information to ensure the ability to deal with multiple threats, including HGV. The research will be conducted from FY2024 to FY2028, and testing will be conducted from FY2028 to FY2030.
New Surface to Air Missile
And, as a means of defeating HGVs detected in this manner, a New Ship-to-Air Missile (capability enhancement) will be developed. The missile will be developed based on the New Ship-to-Air Missile (or simply called N-SAM), a new type of missile that has just been procured for the JMSDF from the FY2024 defense budget. The main changes are the improved ability of the seeker to accurately detect and track HGVs flying at high altitude, at high speed, and on irregular trajectories in order to shoot them down, and the addition of side thrusters to improve the maneuverability of the missiles at high altitude. The fire control system (FCS) of the onboard vessels will also need to be improved. A prototype will be built from FY2024 to FY2030, and testing will be conducted from FY2028 to FY2031.
It is noteworthy that these various types of equipment aimed at countering HGVs will be installed on the new destroyers (DDs) scheduled to be built in 2031. Traditionally, DDGs have been responsible for dealing with these advanced threats and fleet air defense at JMSDF. However, JMSDF has decided that DDs will also participate in fleet air defense in the future. In addition, these systems are being considered for backfit installation on in-service DDs.
Japan New intelligence-gathering aircraft
Currently, JMSDF operates the EP-3 for signal intelligence—SIGINT (electronic intelligence—ELINT and communications intelligence—COMINT) and the OP-3 for Imagery intelligence—IMINT. However, future threats call for the development of a higher-performance successor. Therefore, a new intelligence-gathering aircraft will be developed as the successor of the EP-3. The new aircraft will collect electronic and communications information emitted by the enemy, as well as image information from optical sensors and other sources. AI technology is also expected to be used to analyze the collected information. The aircraft will be based on the P-1 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) currently in operation with the JMSDF. Development will be conducted from FY2024 to FY2031, and various technical tests will be conducted from FY2031 to FY2033.
