Japan is pursuing development of missile-carrying uncrewed underwater vehicles and hypersonic weapons. The character of the equipment has drawn responses from neighbouring states.
Japan is reported to be advancing uncrewed underwater vehicles and hypersonic weapons within its defence equipment development plans. Both are fields several countries have recently entered.
광고 문의 · 300×250Uncrewed underwater vehicles can remain submerged for long periods without a crew, handling surveillance and mine detection and, in some configurations, armed roles. They are under review as a way to supplement submarine forces that are heavy on personnel.
Hypersonic weapons refers to systems that travel above Mach 5 while altering their flight path. Because interception is difficult, they feature frequently in discussions of deterrence.
Japan's defence budget has been on an upward track for several years. How to divide spending between procurement and domestic development is among the contested points in budget deliberation.
Chinese officials have voiced displeasure at the direction of the work, a sign that the gap in mutual perception around regional armament has not narrowed.
Rather than defending or criticising any country's defence plans, this paper sets out the factual record from published planning documents and budget lines. Armament trends in Northeast Asia bear on Korea, Taiwan and the Sinophone communities living across the region alike.
