Reported about 1 year ago
On July 5, 2024, the Japanese Ministry of Defense confirmed that their latest development, the 'Island Defense Hypersonic Glide Vehicle,' completed its first launch test in late March in California, USA. Following further performance verification, it could be in service as early as 2026, significantly enhancing deterrence capability. The vehicle is designed to be divided into the 'Early Equipment Type' (Block 1) and the 'Enhanced Performance Type' (Block 2), increasing interception difficulty and striking targets effectively at speeds exceeding 5 Mach.
Source: YAHOO