One Thing about Japan’s F-2 Viper Zero Multi-Role Aircraft is that it has pretty nice Weapons, I already discussed in a previous Post about its AAM-4 Medium Range Air to Air Missile which is one of the few Missiles in the World in Service right now equipped with a stealthy Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar which is similar to what the Chinese PL-15 Missile is using.
Another nice Weapon that the F-2 has is the new ASM-3A Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile which is set to go into Service at the end of this Year of 2025, and its main Platform will be of course, the F-2. The ASM-3A will be one of the few Supersonic Cruise Missiles that are being produced in the West and its Allies.
It has a speed of Mach 3, and has a range of between 300 to 400 km. This is very similar to the BrahMos-Next Generation (NG) Missile that India was heavily promoting to the Philippines, except that the ASM-3A is much further along in Terms of its Development than the BrahMos-NG.
The ASM-3A is about to enter Service while the BrahMos-NG is just starting its Flight Testing and will likely enter Service in about a Year or so. The BrahMos-NG has a slightly longer Range than the ASM-3A as it can fly up to 450 km, but is a little bit slower at Mach 2.8. The ASM-3A though is lighter at 950 kg versus the 1,500 kg weight of the BrahMos-NG.
The ASM-3A’s fast speed in Theory means it will have a better chance of beating Enemy Air Defenses, giving them less time to react to it. Its Primary Mission is for use against Ships, but it can also be used to hit Land Targets.
Now whether we get the Viper Zero or not, I think we should also consider very much these excellent Japanese Weapons. Trust the Japanese to develop on their own also great Weapons ahead of its Allies in the West, the US or Europe up to now still does not have an Anti-Air Missile with AESA Radar or Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile like Japan does have now.
SOURCES:
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Delivery of ASM-3A Missiles to Japan Air Self-Defense Force in 2025: Enhancing Maritime Strike Capabilities {Archived Link}
BrahMos-NG (Next Generation) Missile {Archived Link}