ASM-3


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.

Improvement program

Despite its development being completed in 2017, the missile was not deployed because its range 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 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, is also under development.
The ASM-3 may be used by the F-2's successor once the aircraft retires in the 2030s.

Variants

  • ASM-3A - Extended range version of ASM-3.
  • ASM-3 Kai - Improved version of ASM-3A.