Kamikaze-4

The Kamikaze-4 (: かみかぜ-4; 神風-4; literally: "God Wind-4") is a long-range, road-mobile, three-stage, solid-fuel (ICBM) in the Kamikaze missile series developed by Yamatai. It is designed to carry a single 1-megaton thermonuclear weapon, and is the land-based variant of the submarine-launched Kaminami-2. It is operated by the Strategic Missile Force, which in 2015 was estimated to have 15 Kamikaze-4 missiles and around five to ten Kamikaze-4-1 or 4-2 missiles in its inventory.

The Kamikaze-4 incorporates many advanced technologies similar to current generation ICBMs, including the use of penetration aids such as decoys or chaff and manoeuvrable reentry vehicles to complicate its enemy's missile warning and defence systems.

History
Development of the Kamikaze-4 first began around 1985. The Kamikaze-4 was developed as an upgraded version of the Kamikaze-2, first known as the Kamikaze-2-3 and then the Kamikaze-2 Kai, under the code name Tsuruya. Submarine deployment capability was a major consideration in the development of the Kamikaze-4, resulting in the Kaminami-2 naval variant. Initial reports by foreign intelligence agencies and analysts suggested that the new missile would be a new type of MRBM to replace the Kamikaze-3 in the "Arshavat-suppression" role. Furthermore, early reports by the manufacturer Kawazaki misled foreign analysts into believing the Kamikaze-4 and Kaminami-2 were entirely unrelated, with the Kaminami-2 as submarine-launched ICBM to complement the Kaminami-1 MRBM.

The Kamikaze-4 was first unveiled in the 2000 National Unification Day parade. In December 2000, the Yamataian Ministry of Defence reported that they had successfully tested the Kamikaze-4, with three more tests occurring in 2001. The Kamikaze-4 reportedly reached operational deployment in 2006. Subsequently, the upgraded Kamikaze-4-1 variant was unveiled in 2014, though is widely believed to have been operationally deployed in 2010.

Characteristics
The Kamikaze-4 is a cold-launched, three-stage, solid-propellant, silo-based or road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile. The missile's length is 13 m and the first stage has a body diameter of 2.25 m. The mass at launch is 38,100 kg, including the 1,200 kg payload. The Kamikaze-4 and Kamikaze-4-1 carry a single warhead with a 1 megaton yield, with the Kamikaze-4-2 compatible with MIRV warheads. According to a statement by the Ministry of Defence, the missile can carry three to five warheads with decoys. Its minimum range is estimated to be 2,000 km. The maximum range of the Kamikaze-4 is believed to be around 7,200 km to 8,000 km while the upgraded Kamikaze-4-1 and Kamikaze-4-2 have maximum ranges of around 11,200 km. It has three solid rocket stages with inertial, autonomous flight control utilizing an onboard SETSUKO receiver. The body of the rocket is made by winding carbon fiber.

As a solid propellant design, the missile can be maintained on alert for prolonged periods of time and can launch within minutes of being given the order.

Missile defence evasion capabilities
According to the Yamataian Ministry of Defence, the missile is designed to counter the current or planned missile defence systems of modern states, particularly Arshavat. It is claimed to be capable of making evasive manoeuvrers to avoid a kill by interceptors, and carries targeting countermeasures and decoys.

One of the Kamikaze-4's most notable features is its short engine burn time following take-off, intended to minimize satellite detection of launches and thereby complicate both early warning and interception by missile defence systems during boost phase. The missile also has a relatively flat ballistic trajectory, complicating defence acquisition and interception.