Image Credits: Wikipedia Japan plans to develop a hypersonic missile that can be launched from a submarine and travel at more than Mach 5. The project is part of Japan’s FY2027 defence budget request. The aim is to give Japan another way to launch long-range missiles from submarines that are hard to detect. Japan’s Ministry of Defense included the plan in its FY2027 budget request released at the end of August 2026. The request also includes about ¥48 billion ($325 million) to study an underwater vertical launch system, or VLS, for larger long-range missiles on Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) submarines. Japan is also studying a missile launch system for unmanned underwater vehicles, or UUVs. Why Japan wants submarine-launched missiles China has improved its satellites, surveillance systems, missiles and air forces. These systems can threaten Japanese air bases, naval facilities and known missile sites. Land-based missile units can move. Warships can also change position. But both can still be tracked by satellites and other surveillance systems. Submarines are harder to find when they are underwater. Their exact location can remain unknown while they move toward a launch area. This could help Japan keep some long-range weapons available even after an enemy attack on its military bases. Finding a submarine after it launches a missile would also be difficult. An enemy could have to search a large area of sea using submarines, anti-submarine aircraft, warships and underwater sensors. Japan has not said how far the new missile will travel. It has also not given details about its size, propulsion system or warhead. Japan wants larger missiles on submarines The ¥48 billion VLS research could allow future JMSDF submarines to carry larger long-range missiles. Japan’s current submarines use torpedo tubes to launch weapons. The Taigei-class submarines have six 533 mm torpedo tubes and can launch weapons such as the Harpoon UGM-84. Torpedo tubes limit the size of a