Japan Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Here is an interesting deck prepared by the Ministry of Defense.



This deck was announced in May 2011 and illustrates the various guided missile JSDF has in her arsenal divided in the three arms.

• Page3 The annual budget set for the missiles adding BMD in 2004. (the figures are in hundred million yen)
• Page4 Shows the number of variety of guided missile divided into the three arms y to y.(Lime green JGSDF, Navy Blue JMSDF, Sky Blue JASDF)
• Page5 Divided by target object of missile within each military arm.(From top BMD, AAM, ASM, AB/TM, ATM)
• Page6 Type of guided missile operated by JGSDF
• Page7 Type of guided missile operated by JMSDF
• Page8 Type of guided missile operated by JASDF
• Page9 Type of missiles guided by optical guidance (In bottom show the progress in technology)
• Page10 Type of missile guided by radar guidance (In bottom show the progress in technology)
• Page11 Type of missile guided for anti boat/tank missile (In bottom show the progress in technology)
  (The green bar stand for domestic development, Pink for license production, Blue for imported)
• Page12 Progress of missile targeting and progress in technology
• Page13 List of contractors and amount shown by percentage
• Page14 A chart showing the relationship of ASM-1 missile family and progression divided by the three arms.
• Page15 A chart showing example of shared components for SAM between JGSDF and JASDF.
• Page16 Example of development cycle of a guided missile with SAM as sample
• Page17 Responsibility share of development of SM-3 ⅡA
• Page18 Example of other guided missile by other nations
• Page19 The progression of MBDA

Now I remember someone stating that the number of SSM-1 operated by JGSDF is insignificant in number.
I really do not know what the person considers as a significant number but JGSDF operates 5 sets of SSM-1 handled by each regime.
One set consists of 6 pairs of targeting radar(JTPS-P15), 12 radar relay(JMRC-R5), 1 command center, 4 fire control(JTSQ-W5),16 launch platforms, 16 reloader, 96 missiles. Each regime HQ also have targeting radar, radar relay and command center with one launch platform, one reloader and 24 missiles.
JGSDF also operates 6 launch platform and 72 type 12 SSM-1Ka missiles as well.
As for Harpoons they are only operated by Kongo Class and Asagiri Class and older class DDGs. All new class DDG and DDs are all armed with type 90 ASMs.

SamuraiBlue said:

.
As for Harpoons they are only operated by Kongo Class and Asagiri Class and older class DDGs. All new class DDG and DDs are all armed with type 90 ASMs.

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Actually , Harpoons are operated by more modern and capable ships like Atago and Kongo class (center-pieces of strike group ) . Type 90 is carried by less capable and cheaper ships (support vessels) like Takanami and Akizuki class . Harpoons are also carried by Japanese submarines , which operate more or less independently . It is clear from this that Harpoon is and will be primary weapon , while Japanese ASMs serve mainly to employ domestic military industry . Nothing wrong with that - but Japan is still way behind major arms manufacturers in the world .

thunderchief said:

Actually , Harpoons are operated by more modern and capable ships like Atago and Kongo class (center-pieces of strike group ) . Type 90 is carried by less capable and cheaper ships (support vessels) like Takanami and Akizuki class . Harpoons are also carried by Japanese submarines , which operate more or less independently . It is clear from this that Harpoon is and will be primary weapon , while Japanese ASMs serve mainly to employ domestic military industry . Nothing wrong with that - but Japan is still way behind major arms manufacturers in the world .

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Nope, are armed with type 90. All ships built after FY1990 are armed with type 90 ASM the only reason why the Kongo class was not armed with type 90 is because it was not not in service when they started design. It is also not really a critical matter since both the Kongo class and the Atago Class's primary mission is BMD and ASM is basically secondary or less. On the other hand the DDs primary mission is escort of the DDG and anti-ship and anti-air missions are mission critical requiring the best and most advanced type.
TRDI still have not developed a Sub luanched version of the type 90.
Basically Harpoons are already a weapon of the past for Japan and have made a transition to a more advanced weaponry.

SamuraiBlue said:

Nope,

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are armed with type 90. All ships built after FY1990 are armed with type 90 ASM the only reason why the Kongo class was not armed with type 90 is because it was not not in service when they started design. It is also not really a critical matter since both the Kongo class and the Atago Class's primary mission is BMD and ASM is basically secondary or less. On the other hand the DDs primary mission is escort of the DDG and anti-ship and anti-air missions are mission critical requiring the best and most advanced type.

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Atago-class has Mk-141 launchers - launchers for Harpoons . If those launchers are compatible with Type 90 and if Type 90 is superior then Harpoon , they would have replaced them on all ships . Btw , Murasame class entered service at roughly same time as Kongo class . Yet , cheaper and lighter Murasame has Type 90 , while more expensive and heavier Kongo has Harpoon .

SamuraiBlue said:

TRDI still have not developed a Sub luanched version of the type 90.

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A bit contradictory statement . Japan able to develop better missile then US , but not being able to develop sub launched version of the missile .

The lead ship of the Kongo class was laid down in 1990, the lead ship of the Murasame class was laid down in 1993 type 90 SSM-1 came on line in 1990.

A sub launched anti ship missile is controversial for Japan which can easily be modified into a missile targeting land targets.

SamuraiBlue, thunderchief:

It seems to me you claim the Harpoon is superior to Type 90 ASM and vice versa. Could you please tell me why (I don't want to start comparing the specifications etc. by myself, which anyway wouldn't give me the additional information you might have) in an email to Krize1938_at_sign_seznam.cz or just post it thanks

thunderchief said:

Atago-class has Mk-141 launchers - launchers for Harpoons . If those launchers are compatible with Type 90 and if Type 90 is superior then Harpoon , they would have replaced them on all ships . Btw , Murasame class entered service at roughly same time as Kongo class . Yet , cheaper and lighter Murasame has Type 90 , while more expensive and heavier Kongo has Harpoon.

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Thundercief, there are two Atagos and four Kongos. Six vessels.

There are nine Murasamis. Seven Takanamis and five Akizakis. 21 Vessels. You do the math. Those 21 vessels are the primary surface strike and ASW vessels of the fleet (operating in their own SAGs or in conjunction with the Hyugas). The new indigenous Japanese SSM missile is now the main stay of the JMSDF surface combatant anti surface capability. Anyone watching, observing, and analyzing the JMSDF for any number of years knows and recognizes this.

Do they still use harpoons? Yes. Are Harpoons the principle missile now, or the future for the JMSDF now? No.

Jura said:

SamuraiBlue, thunderchief:

It seems to me you claim the Harpoon is superior to Type 90 ASM and vice versa. Could you please tell me why (I don't want to start comparing the specifications etc. by myself, which anyway wouldn't give me the additional information you might have) in an email to Krize1938_at_sign_seznam.cz or just post it thanks

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I believe it's more about having control over the entire system including tracking & firing control in which with indigenous design & production you have total freedom and control over the entire system while with imports a certain amount of black boxed equipment will always be present. I believe the British had a similar problem with the Chinooks in which the US refused to provide full disclosure of the control software so they had to strip it down and rebuilt it from scratch.
Japan faces similar problem in which the only solution is to develop the equipment domestically.

Jeff Head said:

Thundercief, there are two Atagos and four Kongos. Six vessels.

There are nine Murasamis. Seven Takanamis and five Akizakis. 21 Vessels. You do the math. Those 21 vessels are the primary surface strike and ASW vessels of the fleet (operating in their own SAGs or in conjunction with the Hyugas). The new indigenous Japanese SSM missile is now the main stay of the JMSDF surface combatant anti surface capability. Anyone watching, observing, and analyzing the JMSDF for any number of years knows and recognizes this.

Do they still use harpoons? Yes. Are Harpoons the principle missile now, or the future for the JMSDF now? No.

Click to expand...

Five Takanami and four Akizuki class for sure.

SamuraiBlue said:

The lead ship of the Kongo class was laid down in 1990, the lead ship of the Murasame class was laid down in 1993 type 90 SSM-1 came on line in 1990.

A sub launched anti ship missile is controversial for Japan which can easily be modified into a missile targeting land targets.

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Type 88 was operational in 80's , so this is not good excuse . Also , cruise missiles could be launched from ships and aircraft , and there is cruise missile variant of Harpoon (SLAM) .

Jeff Head said:

Thundercief, there are two Atagos and four Kongos. Six vessels.

There are nine Murasamis. Seven Takanamis and five Akizakis. 21 Vessels. You do the math. Those 21 vessels are the primary surface strike and ASW vessels of the fleet (operating in their own SAGs or in conjunction with the Hyugas). The new indigenous Japanese SSM missile is now the main stay of the JMSDF surface combatant anti surface capability. Anyone watching, observing, and analyzing the JMSDF for any number of years knows and recognizes this.

Do they still use harpoons? Yes. Are Harpoons the principle missile now, or the future for the JMSDF now? No.

Click to expand...

Count in Hatsuyuki-class , Abukuma-class , Hatakaze-class ,Asagiri-class and subs , and you will get totally different picture . One where Japan tries to supplement Harpoons with domestic products to achieve necessary quantity and to develop own industry - not to replace them with something superior .

Jura said:

SamuraiBlue, thunderchief:

It seems to me you claim the Harpoon is superior to Type 90 ASM and vice versa. Could you please tell me why (I don't want to start comparing the specifications etc. by myself, which anyway wouldn't give me the additional information you might have) in an email to Krize1938_at_sign_seznam.cz or just post it thanks

Click to expand...

It is safe to say that modern Harpoons are best subsonic ASMs in the world today (Russian supersonics are whole another ball game so I won't discuss them ) . Long range , re-target capability , terminal manoeuvres , extremely low approach attitude , Block II added GSM etc ...