Latest news with #JSAsuka
Newsweek
19-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Nuclear-Armed North Korea Issues Warning to US Ally
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. North Korea has issued a warning to Japan over its upcoming test-fire of a prototype railgun. The futuristic weapon signals Japan is mulling a preemptive attack on the nuclear-armed country, state media said, adding that this would be a "suicidal act." Newsweek reached out to the Korean embassy in China and Japan's defense ministry via email for comment. Why It Matters Railguns can inflict significant damage without relying on explosives. They use electromagnetic force to fire metal slugs at speeds exceeding Mach 5. The weapons offer a relatively low-cost, effective means of countering threats such as hypersonic missiles, including those fielded. Official development began in 2016, and the United States ally conducted the first known shipboard test of a railgun in 2023. Another test is planned aboard an experimental warship, this time mounted on a naval turret to simulate real-world combat conditions. What To Know An article released Saturday by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) characterized Japan's ongoing military buildup as part of a plan to establish another "great Japanese empire." Development of new weapon platforms such as the railgun is "aimed at enhancing and expanding the utility of preemptive attack directly targeting the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] and the neighboring countries and thus realizing at any cost the old ambition of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere," KCNA quoted international security analyst Kim Ryo Won as saying, using North Korea's official name. Japan's prototype railgun during testing aboard experimental ship the JS Asuka Japan's prototype railgun during testing aboard experimental ship the JS Asuka Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Framed as a pan-Asian bloc led by Tokyo, the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" was a concept used by the Empire of Japan to justify its expansion during World War II. "The reckless military buildup of Japan, a war criminal state, to make a preemptive attack on nuclear weapons states while turning the archipelago into a huge powder magazine will be a suicidal act of dashing toward the second defeat," Kim said. Japan has been steadily strengthening security ties with the U.S. and South Korea, focusing on the North Korean threat and China's increasing assertiveness. North Korea claims to have successfully tested an intermediate-range hypersonic missile in January, though South Korean officials have expressed skepticism about its stated capabilities. Pyongyang has carried out frequent missile tests in violation of United Nations Security Council sanctions and continues to build out its nuclear weapons program. The Kim Jong Un regime insists both are necessary for self-defense, citing "provocations" by the U.S. and its allies. What People Are Saying The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces, in an April press release: "The Self-Defense Fleet maintains readiness and contributes to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region, not only for the defense of Japan but also for the realization of a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' in cooperation with allied and like-minded navies." What Happens Next It remains unclear when Japan plans to field its railgun. China has also been developing a railgun and reportedly conducted a shipboard test last year, though it was said to have failed after the projectile veered off course. The U.S. Navy abandoned its railgun program in 2021, shifting its focus to other advanced weapons, including hypersonic missiles.
Miami Herald
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
US Ally To Test Futuristic Weapon for Hypersonic Missile Defense
Japan plans to test its rail gun, which uses electricity to fire projectiles, aiming to enhance its defense against Chinese and North Korean hypersonic missiles, according to local media. Newsweek has emailed the Japanese and Chinese defense ministries for comment. North Korea's embassy in China did not immediately respond to a written request for comment. Japan, a treaty ally of the United States, faces threats from North Korea and China. Both nations have claimed to have tested and deployed hypersonic missiles, which can travel at over five times the speed of sound, making them capable of evading most defense systems. A rail gun is equipped with two rails that are used to fire projectiles. It uses an electric pulse to generate an electromagnetic force that accelerates the projectile to up to six times the speed of sound. The projectile, a kinetic energy warhead, hits its target with extreme speed. A Japanese experimental ship will conduct a test of a rail-gun prototype in the waters off Japan's coast "in the near future," The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported on Monday. The event will mark the first sea test of a near full-scale prototype. It aims to determine whether the weapon can accurately hit its target. The prototype is the same size as those intended for actual deployment-approximately 19.6 feet long and weighing 8 tons. Japan publicly unveiled the rail gun prototype last month, showing it mounted aboard the experimental ship JS Asuka. The Japanese navy says that the weapon's development is intended to strengthen the defense capabilities to protect Japan's citizens and territorial waters. It was not immediately clear whether the test will be conducted by the Asuka. The ship was seen departing Yokosuka, a major naval port near Tokyo, Japan's capital city, on May 7, according to a post on X, formerly Twitter. The Japanese Defense Ministry is planning to install rail guns on warships equipped with the Aegis combat system, which provides "simultaneous integrated air and missile defense," as a potential countermeasure against ultrafast hypersonic weapons, The Yomiuri Shimbun said. In 2023, Japan conducted a rail gun firing test at sea, claiming it could protect ships with "high-speed bullets." However, according to the specialist outlet The War Zone, the rail gun was mounted on a test platform rather than the "full naval turret" installed on the Asuka. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force said: "The Self Defense Fleet maintains readiness and contributes to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region, not only for the defense of Japan but also for the realization of a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' in cooperation with allied and like-minded navies." The specialist outlet The War Zone wrote: "Railguns, which use electromagnets rather than chemical propellants to fire their projectiles at very high velocities, do present significant technological challenges. Most immediately, weapons of this type, historically, have had immense power demands, especially if the goal is to allow for any kind of even relatively rapid-fire capability." The War Zone said there are still what it called "significant questions" about when, and if, a practical rail gun may be put into Japanese service for use on warships or any other platform. Related Articles Photos Show US Preparing Frontline Base for China Missile WarNavy Officer Charged After Wife Found Dead in Hotel RoomUS Ally Intercepts Chinese Spy Ships Near CoastUS Allies Flex Naval Muscles Near China 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Ally To Test Futuristic Weapon for Hypersonic Missile Defense
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Japan plans to test its rail gun, which uses electricity to fire projectiles, aiming to enhance its defense against Chinese and North Korean hypersonic missiles, according to local media. Newsweek has emailed the Japanese and Chinese defense ministries for comment. North Korea's embassy in China did not immediately respond to a written request for comment. Why It Matters Japan, a treaty ally of the United States, faces threats from North Korea and China. Both nations have claimed to have tested and deployed hypersonic missiles, which can travel at over five times the speed of sound, making them capable of evading most defense systems. A rail gun is equipped with two rails that are used to fire projectiles. It uses an electric pulse to generate an electromagnetic force that accelerates the projectile to up to six times the speed of sound. The projectile, a kinetic energy warhead, hits its target with extreme speed. A rail gun prototype stands mounted aboard the experimental ship JS "Asuka" on April 9, 2025. A rail gun prototype stands mounted aboard the experimental ship JS "Asuka" on April 9, 2025. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force What To Know A Japanese experimental ship will conduct a test of a rail-gun prototype in the waters off Japan's coast "in the near future," The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported on Monday. The event will mark the first sea test of a near full-scale prototype. It aims to determine whether the weapon can accurately hit its target. The prototype is the same size as those intended for actual deployment—approximately 19.6 feet long and weighing 8 tons. Japan publicly unveiled the rail gun prototype last month, showing it mounted aboard the experimental ship JS Asuka. The Japanese navy says that the weapon's development is intended to strengthen the defense capabilities to protect Japan's citizens and territorial waters. It was not immediately clear whether the test will be conducted by the Asuka. The ship was seen departing Yokosuka, a major naval port near Tokyo, Japan's capital city, on May 7, according to a post on X, formerly Twitter. Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force experimental ship JS Asuka (ASE-6102) leaving Yokosuka, Japan - May 7, 2025 SRC: TW-@Gov_Vessel_fan — WarshipCam (@WarshipCam) May 7, 2025 The Japanese Defense Ministry is planning to install rail guns on warships equipped with the Aegis combat system, which provides "simultaneous integrated air and missile defense," as a potential countermeasure against ultrafast hypersonic weapons, The Yomiuri Shimbun said. In 2023, Japan conducted a rail gun firing test at sea, claiming it could protect ships with "high-speed bullets." However, according to the specialist outlet The War Zone, the rail gun was mounted on a test platform rather than the "full naval turret" installed on the Asuka. #ATLA has accomplished ship-board firing test of railgun first time in the world with the cooperation of the JMSDF. To protect vessels against air-threats and surface-threats by high-speed bullets, ATLA strongly promotes early deployment of railgun technology. — Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency (@atla_kouhou_en) October 17, 2023 What People Are Saying The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force said: "The Self Defense Fleet maintains readiness and contributes to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region, not only for the defense of Japan but also for the realization of a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' in cooperation with allied and like-minded navies." The specialist outlet The War Zone wrote: "Railguns, which use electromagnets rather than chemical propellants to fire their projectiles at very high velocities, do present significant technological challenges. Most immediately, weapons of this type, historically, have had immense power demands, especially if the goal is to allow for any kind of even relatively rapid-fire capability." What Happens Next The War Zone said there are still what it called "significant questions" about when, and if, a practical rail gun may be put into Japanese service for use on warships or any other platform.
Yomiuri Shimbun
12-05-2025
- Science
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Defense Ministry to Conduct Railgun Prototype Firing Test on MSDF Ship; Eyed as Hypersonic Weapon Countermeasure
Courtesy of the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency A prototype railgun being developed by the Defense Ministry The Defense Ministry plans to test a railgun prototype, a weapon that utilizes electromagnetic force instead of gunpowder to fire projectiles at very high speeds, on an experimental ship off the coast of Japan in the near future, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned. Railguns are cutting-edge weapons that are considered a potential countermeasure against hypersonic weapons, which China and North Korea are developing. The defense ministry is eyeing the deployment of railguns with a view to installing them on Aegis-equipped ships. When an electric current is passed through a pair of parallel rails, a magnetic field is generated, which causes the metal projectile inside the railgun to be fired. It can generate much higher speeds and cover much further distances than conventional artillery. It is also considered advantageous in terms of the safety of JSDF personnel, as storing ammunition is easy because it does not use gunpowder. In addition to attacks on vessels, aircraft and drones, railguns have the potential to be used to intercept hypersonic weapons, which travel at least five times the speed of sound along irregular trajectories at low altitude. Railguns are considered to be a game changer that can transform the balance of power. Courtesy of the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency A prototype railgun being developed by the Defense Ministry The ministry started research on railguns in fiscal 2016 and an offshore firing test was conducted using a small prototype on the Maritime Self Defense Forces' experimental ship JS Asuka in summer 2023. The upcoming test will use a prototype which is the expected size of those to be used in actual warfare – about six meters long and weighing about eight tons. This is the first offshore test using a near full-scale prototype, and the ministry will check such things as whether it can accurately reach its target. The ministry concluded the Terms of Reference for cooperation on railgun technologies with France, Germany and a research institute. Hoping to have railguns enter practical use, the ministry has also dispatched its technical officers to the U.S. military, which has suspended its railgun development, in order to utilize its experimental data. Railguns are being eyed for deployment on Aegis-equipped ships and new-model destroyers. However, some issues still need to be solved, such as rails being damaged over time by the projectiles, making continuous firing difficult and reducing the muzzle velocity. China has also accelerated its railgun development. According to Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post, China's Naval University of Engineering revealed that it had succeeded in firing off 120 rounds in a research paper published in November 2023. The newspaper said that it would put 'China ahead of the pack, globally.'
South China Morning Post
24-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Japan hits rail gun milestone in race to counter China's hypersonic development
Last week's sea trial of Japan's upgraded electromagnetic rail gun is a milestone in the intensifying regional arms race aimed at countering hypersonic missiles from China, North Korea and Russia. Advertisement Observers said that Japan could well become one of the first navies to operate the advanced weapon as part of its air defence capabilities, after the Japanese defence ministry released images of the gun this week, without elaborating. The latest images show a number of modifications to the prototype's first experimental firing in October 2023. The next generation weapon was also sighted earlier this month on board the JS Asuka in Yokosuka port before setting off for the sea trial on April 10. According to Timothy Heath, a senior international defence researcher at the Rand Corporation, Japanese development of the technology was a predictable outcome of China's military investment. 'Given China's enormous inventory of ballistic and growing number of hypersonic missiles that can target Japan, Beijing cannot really be surprised at Japan's determination to build such defensive systems,' he said. Advertisement However, former PLA instructor Song Zhongping said compared with conventional artillery, the electromagnetic gun 'uses a new principle to attack targets, and its attack power and accuracy are relatively high'. 'If Japan develops this type of weapon and deploys it, it will mean that Japan is beginning to pursue an offensive strategy, and the threat posed to other countries and the region will be rather serious,' Song said.
