Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) has unveiled new images showing domestic tests of the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile (HVGP), a next-generation hypersonic weapon being developed for island defense.
The photos, presented by ATLA’s Hypersonic Glide Vehicle Development Section under the Joint Systems Development Division, show the missile’s transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) system in a range of environments, including forested terrain, snow-covered test grounds, and during loading aboard naval and air transport platforms.
According to ATLA, the HVGP has already undergone two launch tests in the United States, confirming its ability to achieve glide flight. Research and development are expected to be completed within the current fiscal year. The program aims to enhance Japan’s capability to respond to emerging threats in its southwestern island chains, where long-range precision strike systems are viewed as a core component of future deterrence.
The missile system, designed for rapid deployment and survivability, features a large wheeled launcher capable of carrying twin canisters. The images show the vehicle conducting loading and firing preparation drills, mobility trials, and environmental testing in cold and rugged conditions.
The HVGP project is part of Japan’s broader effort to modernize its missile forces under the Ministry of Defense’s Mid-Term Defense Program. It is intended to provide the Japan Self-Defense Forces with a high-speed, maneuverable strike capability capable of penetrating advanced air defenses and engaging both maritime and land targets at extended range.
The program has received particular attention amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific and growing concerns about the deployment of hypersonic weapons by regional adversaries. The development effort also reflects Tokyo’s move toward greater defense autonomy and the creation of indigenous strategic systems.
ATLA has stated that the hypersonic glide vehicle program is progressing as planned and that additional trials are being conducted to validate launch operations, transportability, and system reliability. Once completed, the HVGP is expected to serve as one of Japan’s most advanced strike weapons.
