On June 24, 2025, Japan conducted a missile test on its land for the first time, which is a historic step in its defense strategy. Japan performed its new Hyper Velocity Guided Projects (HVGP) missile during the Fuji Firepower 2025 exercise.
The missile is built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries under the guidance of Japan’s Advanced Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA). The missile has been developed in response to the growing military threat of North Korea and China. Let us know that the characteristics of HVGP missiles, Japan’s defense strategy and the causes of North Korea and China’s threats are known.
Japan’s first missile test: a new era
Japan has taken steps towards increasing military strength, leaving its pacifying policy. Fuji 2025 live fire exercises took place in the Higashi-Fuji training area of ​​Shizuoka province. Japan demonstrated the HVGP hypersonic missile and type 12 surface-to-mahz missile. According to the Asian Military Review, this HVGP missile was in the era of development from 2018. Its first successful test took place in the US in 2024.
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Japan plans to deploy this missile by 2026. The missile is part of Japan’s defense strategy, which has been designed in response to North Korea’s missile tests and China’s maritime aggression. According to a New York Times report, Japan is also buying weapons such as F-35B stealth fighter and tomahoc cruise missile to strengthen its defense.
HVGP missile: features and strength
Hyper Velocity Guided Projectile (HVGP) is a hypersonic missile, which can fly at a speed of MAC 5 (five times faster than sound). It has been created by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It is the first hypersonic missile to attack Japan’s land. Some of its major features are as follows …
Range and speed:
- Block 1: A range of 500 to 900 km, which will be deployed from 2026.
- Block 2A and 2B: Will be posted in 2027 and 2030, whose range will be 2000 km and 3000 km.
- This missile blows at a speed of Mac 5, which is difficult to stop it. 6440 km/hr speed.
Launch and design
- HVGP is transported on an 8×8 tactical truck, which consists of two contained missiles.
- It is based on solid-fuel boost glide design, which enables it to launch fast and avoid radar.
- It has a satellite navigation and inhalational navigation system (INS), which helps in accurately target.
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Warhead types
- Naval Warhead: This is to destroy ships, with radio-frequency imaging and doppler shift data leads to terminal guidance.
- Ground Warhead: It has explosive formid projectile (EFP) Warhead, which destroys ground locations.
- Deployment: HVGP will be deployed in Kyushu (Southern Japan) and Hokkaido (Northern Japan), close to China and North Korea.
Japan is also developing another hypersonic missile, hypersonic cruise missile (HCM), which will run from the scramjet engine and attack long distances.
North Korea and China have increased threat
The main reason for this new defense strategy of Japan is North Korea and China’s growing military threat.
North Korea’s threat
Missile test: North Korea conducted several missile tests in 2025. According to Reuters, on 8 May 2025, North Korea tested short-range ballistic missiles, which were possibly for export.
ICBM and Nuclear Weapons: According to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), North Korea tested Solid-Fuel ICBM in 2023, which is a threat to Japan and the US.
J-alert warning: In 2023, North Korean missiles activated the J-alert warning in Japan, causing fear among the citizens. CBC reported that a missile was about to pass over Japan, but it fell into the sea.
Kim Jong-Un threatens: According to Al Jazeera, Kim Jong-un talked about making his nuclear power aggressive and practical in 2025. Japan said that North Korea has become a bigger threat than ever before.
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Chinese threat
Military Extension: According to a Pentagon report, China has over 600 nuclear weapons and medium -range ballistic missiles, which can target Japan and America.
Marine aggression: According to Caliber.AZ, China repeatedly infiltrated the airspace and water area of ​​Japan in the eastern China Sea.
Danger on Taiwan: China’s claim on Taiwan is a matter of concern for Japan, as Taiwan has Ryucue Islands, which are part of Japan. USNI News reported that Japan will deploy HVGP to protect these islands.
Hypersonic missiles: According to PBS, China tested the first hypersonic missile in 2017. Now he has many hypersonic weapons, which can target Japan, Hawaii and Alaska.
Japan’s defense strategy: Why is it necessary?
Japan’s pacifying constitution (applied after 1945) allows him only a defensive military policy. But the increasing threat of North Korea and China forced Japan to change its policy. According to the South China Morning Post, China described Japan’s missile tests as a violation of the pacifying constitution, but Japan called it an necessary step for its safety.
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Deployment in Kyushu and Hokkaido
Kyushu: It is the southern island of Japan, close to China. Type 12 missiles (1000 km range) and HVGP will be posted here.
Hokkaido: This northern island is close to North Korea. The Type 88 missile was tested in Hokcido in 2025.
Cooperation with America
Japan bought equipment and services for HVGP from the US under a $ 200 million deal. This deal will strengthen the defense of Japan. According to the New York Times, Japan will establish a war headquarters with the US and is buying F-35B and Tomahock missiles.
Indigenous defense industry
Japan is promoting its defense industry. Japan has started work on hypersonic missiles and anti-drone laser systems. Japan has decided to deploy 1000 missiles to respond to North Korea and China’s hypersonic missiles.
Chinese reaction
According to the South China Morning Post, China’s People’s Liberation Army Daily described Japan’s missile test as a threat to regional stability. TRT Global reported that China caused dangerous aerial encounter with Japanese aircraft, which increased tension.
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North Korea’s threat
According to Reuters, North Korea intensified missile tests in 2025, which Japan considered a threat to its safety. Al Jazira said that Kim Jong-un threatened a harsh response against the US and Japan.
America and partner
Japan planned to develop a rail gun, which can prevent hypersonic missiles. India shared information about the PL-15E missile recovered from Pakistan with Japan, which strengthened the strategic partnership of the two countries. Japan’s missile deployment may increase tension in East China Sea and Taiwan Strait. China’s ICBM testing in 2024 raised concerns in the Pacific region.