DSEI Japan 2025: MHI to deliver ASM-3A missiles to Japan's air force

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will deliver the ASM-3A supersonic, air-launched, anti-ship missile (pictured) to the JASDF for deployment on F-2 fighter aircraft. (Janes/Oishee Majumdar)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) will deliver an extended-range version of its ASM-3 supersonic, air-launched, anti-ship missile to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) in 2025.

Speaking to Janes at the DSEI Japan 2025 show being held in Chiba from 21 to 23 May, a JASDF official said that MHI will deliver an undisclosed number of this missile called ASM-3A by the end of 2025.

These missiles will be deployed on the JASDF's F-2 fighter aircraft, the official added.

According to information displayed by the JASDF, ASM-3A has a length of 6 m, a wing width of 35 cm, and a weight of 940 kg. It can be used to attack ships and targets on ground. This missile has a range of about 300–400 km.

The baseline ASM-3 variant has a range of 200 km and an estimated top speed of Mach 3. It is slightly smaller than ASM-3A, with an estimated length of 5.25 m.

The JASDF official told Janes that MHI is also developing ASM-3 (Kai), which will have more advanced capabilities compared with ASM-3A. In particular, ASM-3 (Kai) will have a longer range than ASM-3A. The official declined to provide more information about ASM-3 (Kai) and ASM-3A.

A senior MHI official told Janes at DSEI Japan 2025 that the company intends to complete development of ASM-3 (Kai) by the end of 2026. The official declined to provide additional details about this missile.

Japan's defence budget document for fiscal year (FY) 2024 allocated JPY11.8 billion (USD82.3 million) to procure ASM-3A missiles for the F-2 aircraft.