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ASM-3 | |
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Type | Air-to-surface anti-ship missile |
Place of origin | Japan |
Service history | |
Used by | Japan Air Self-Defense Force |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
Specifications | |
Mass | 940 kg (2,070 lb) |
Length | 6 m (20 ft) |
Engine | Integral Rocket Ramjet |
Operational range | Original: 150–200 km (81–108 nmi; 93–124 mi) Improved version: about 400km(ASM-3A) Extended Range: 400 km (220 nmi; 250 mi) |
Maximum speed | Mach 3+ |
Guidance system | Inertial/GPS, mid-course correction terminal guidance: Active radar homing/Passive radar guidance |
Launch platform | Mitsubishi F-2 |
The ASM-3 is a supersonic anti-ship missile being developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to replace the ASM-1 and ASM-2 missiles. The major launch platform is the Mitsubishi F-2. Planned Initial Operational Capability was 2016. The missile will be used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. It can attack not only ships, but also ground targets. Since the original model of ASM-3 had a short range of 200 km, it was not deployed immediately, and an improved model was developed from 2017 to 2020, and deployment of ASM-3A with a range of about 300~400 km started in 2021. In the future, it may also have a range of 400 km or more.
In November 2015, Japan's Ministry of Defense announced it would conduct a live-fire experiment of the XASM-3 in 2016, targeting the decommissioned ship JDS Shirane. In February 2017, an F-2 carried out a jettison test of the missile as a precursor to a live firing. Mass production was planned to begin in 2018 but stopped due to the further upgrade program that has been planned. Footage of a test launch was released in August 2017.
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Despite its development being completed in 2017, the missile was not deployed because its range (200 km (110 nmi; 120 mi)) was deemed too short to effectively counter the Chinese Navy's long range air-defense. In March 2019, it was reported that the ASM-3 would have its range extended to 400 km (220 nmi; 250 mi) or more.
In December 2019, the Japanese Defense Ministry secured ¥10.3 billion to upgrade the missile in its 2020 budget. In December 2020, Japan MoD announced the ASM-3A, a variant of the ASM-3 with extended range, and an intention to mass-produce it with the 2021 defense budget. Another upgraded version of the ASM-3, the ASM-3 (Kai), is also under development.
The ASM-3 may be used by the F-2's successor once the aircraft retires in the 2030s.
Related development
Related lists
Comparable missiles
Japan Self-Defense Forces missiles | |
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Air-to-air missiles | |
Air-to-surface missile | |
Anti-tank missile | |
Surface-to-air missile | |
Surface-to-surface missile | |
Anti-submarine missile |