Japan Launches Defense Satellite

4 November, 2024 The H3 launch vehicle during the launch of a communication satellite into orbit. Freeze frame from JAXA video Japan launches a new defense satellite into orbit using a domestic H3 rocket.

Bloomberg reported on this with reference to the Japanese space agency JAXA. During the fourth launch, the H3 rocket took off from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan. Everything went according to plan, and the satellite was successfully placed into geostationary orbit, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency reported.

The satellite was named Kirameki 3 and became Japan's second defense satellite in the X-band. It provides the military with the ability to exchange information for planning military operations and provides command and control. The previous satellite in the series was launched in January 2017.

Another Japanese X-band communication system is deployed as a satellite payload on the Superbird-B3 commercial satellite. The X-band satellite is less affected by weather conditions and is able to maintain stable communication.

"The three-satellite X-band communications system will provide high-speed data transmission and communication between Japan's land, sea and air self-defense forces, as well as with units deployed overseas for peacekeeping missions or exercises," said Major General Yasuhiro Kato, Director, C4 Systems Dept, Japan Joint Staff. The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency says that Kirameki 3 will start operating by the end of March 2025 after it is transferred to a designated geostationary orbit over Japan and tested. The launch of this satellite was originally scheduled for October 20.

But due to a technical failure and bad weather, it was postponed four times. This launch was the third consecutive successful flight of the H3 rocket after an unsuccessful debut flight in 2023, when the rocket had to be destroyed along with the payload. JAXA and its main contractor, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, have developed the H3 as a successor to the current H-2A main launch vehicle, which is due to be retired after two more flights.

Japan is actively expanding its network of military satellites amid rising tensions in the Pacific region.

Thus, in 2024, two Japanese reconnaissance satellites IGS-Radar 8 for radar reconnaissance and IGS-Optical 8 for optical reconnaissance were launched into orbit.