Page 21 - ADT MARCH / APRIL 2024 Digital Magazine | GBP

that will be enough to evade any appears to be aimed at developing kinds of threats it is targeting with
air defense system in the world. It a strategic nuclear weapon, with this new class of weapon.
is expected to have a range of 600 Paris recently awarding a contract
km. to modify a proposed air-launched Japan’s defence ministry is devel-
supersonic cruise missile. oping what it calls a “hypervelocity
gliding projectile,” or HVGP, for
France in the Lead Under the V-MaX project, being deployment on island bases starting
led by ArianeGroup - a joint ven- in 2026.
France joined the hypersonic
weapons club with its Project ture between Airbus and France’s
V-MaX (Experimental Maneuvering Safran - the air-to-surface ASN4G In a document published on the
Vehicle). missile, which will replace the website of the Procurement,
medium-range ASMP, has been
configured to travel at hypersonic Technology and Logistics Agency,
Last June, the French Ministry of speeds. the Japanese government
Armed Forces announced that announced that in the near future
France has conducted the first flight two classes of hypersonic systems
test of a hypersonic missile, mark- The ASMP, or Air-Sol Moyenne will be deployed – a hypersonic
Portée, has an estimated speed of
ing “a new milestone on the road to cruise missile (HCM) and an ultra-
France’s mastery of hypervelocity.” Mach 3 and a range of 300 miles. fast planning warhead (FPW).

Japan is Ready
The French hypersonic glider HCM is supposed to be equipped
named V-MAX was launched from Japan aims to have a hypersonic with a hypersonic ramjet engine,
Biscarosse, the DGA’s test center weapon ready for testing by 2025, it will look like an ordinary rocket,
in France’s southwestern Landes presumably with the North Korean but fly at a much higher speed and
region, using a sounding rocket nuclear missile threat and Chinese have a long flight range.
from a newly-built base on June 26, aircraft carriers in mind. Japan has
2023. outlined its research and develop-
ment road map for its homegrown, Tokyo plans to produce early ver-
stand-off hypersonic weapons, sions of hypersonic weapons from
France has become the first confirming that it is seeking an 2024 to 2028. It is expected that
European nation to develop its own incremental growth in capability and they will go into service in the early
hypersonic weapons. The effort providing more details about the 2030s..

ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY MARCH - APRIL 2024 | 21