Summoning Japan: Flights of the Fancy

Extra Chapter - ASM-2X Development Secrets

On the way back to Japan from Cartalpas, Samejima was asked, "But why was the ASM-2X loaded on the Akizuki?"

"It's just a coincidence, purely a coincidence."

The people around didn't believe it, but it really was a coincidence.

. . .

Before attacking Duro in the Japanese-Parpaldian War, there was an explanation from the Ministry of Defense to the Cabinet. At that time, the Prime Minister, upon learning about the bombing using BP-3C, inquired if there were means to conduct precision-guided bombing.

Defense Ministry officials mentioned options like LJDAM, but the numbers were limited, so they added, "Alternatively, although it may be costly, the Type 93 anti-ship missile (ASM-2) can perform infrared image guidance, so theoretically, precision bombing is possible... I can only say 'probably' as there are no actual examples."

Upon hearing this, the Prime Minister sighed.

"...After this battle is over, we need to fundamentally reconsider the Self-Defense Forces' weaponry."

Having heard the Prime Minister's words, Defense Ministry officials believed there was a need to increase precision bombing capabilities and instructed the ATLA to consider the possibility of precision bombing using ASM-2.

The ATLA, interpreting it as an official government directive, began the study. When it was confirmed that the schedule would span fiscal years, they submitted a request for the necessary budget. It was then that a misunderstanding became apparent—the budget request did not get approval. While the Prime Minister felt the necessity, he had not explicitly given the directive. When the Ministry of Finance inquired, the Prime Minister's office responded that no such research had been instructed or approved.

In the end, it was concluded that Defense Ministry officials had acted on their own assumptions. However, the ATLA was not satisfied. There was a mountain of equipment, ammunition, and parts that needed to be domestically produced due to the cessation of imports from abroad. Despite the already daunting workload, they tackled this theme as a top priority because it was said to be the Prime Minister's directive. But just as they climbed to the second, third, or even fourth floor, the ladder was pulled out from under them. This research was halted, and the results were sealed—until Samejima took notice and dug it up.

. . .

On the other hand, the Ministry of Defense initiated independent research on the Grade Atlastar. Particularly, it drew significant attention within the Defense Ministry due to its striking resemblance to the old Japanese Navy's Yamato-class battleships. Among various aspects, what was particularly intensively researched was the weaponry to defeat the Grade Atlastar. Various opinions were put forward, but the practical options boiled down to missiles and torpedoes.

However, torpedoes equipped on JMSDF surface vessels were only short-range torpedoes designed for anti-submarine warfare. The platforms capable of launching long-range torpedoes for anti-surface warfare were limited to submarines. While it was technically possible to modify surface vessels to launch long-range torpedoes, the execution posed a rotation problem. Escort vessels undergo maintenance and modification every four years for a period of six months. In other words, if one intended to modify all surface vessels, it would take four years. There was no guarantee that the JMSDF would not face the Grade Atlastar over the next four years, and even if they did, there was no assurance that the surface vessels at that time would be already modified.

Submarines have slow underwater navigation speeds, and the conventional tactic is to use ambush attacks. Even optimistically estimating the opportunities for ambushing the Grade Atlastar with submarines, there were not many by any means.