Japan has officially brought the Type 25 (25HGP) into service, making it the country’s first indigenous weapon system to employ boost-glide technology for long-range precision strikes.
The missile is designed to manoeuvre at hypersonic speeds after separating from its booster, making it significantly more difficult to intercept than conventional ballistic missiles. It is launched from a multi-axle mobile platform, enabling rapid deployment and repositioning to improve battlefield survivability, particularly across Japan’s south-western island chain.
Tokyo has not disclosed the operational range of the current variant, but has confirmed the development of the Block II version, which is expected to achieve a range of up to 2,000 kilometres as part of Japan’s broader effort to strengthen its long-range deterrence capabilities.
