US and Japan Collaborate on Hypersonic Missile Defense System

New agreement aims to develop Glide Phase Interceptor by mid-2030s to counter advanced threats from China and Russia

The project, named Glide Phase Interceptor, targets hypersonic missiles that exceed Mach 5.
Japan and the US will share development responsibilities, with Japan focusing on interceptor components.
The initiative follows a 2023 summit and involves significant funding from both nations.
Deployment is planned on Aegis-class destroyers, enhancing regional defense capabilities.
The agreement underscores the growing urgency to address hypersonic threats in the Asia-Pacific region.