Posted on 12/05/2017 9:31:05 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
TOKYO (REUTERS) - Japan is preparing to acquire precision air-launched missiles that for the first time would give it the capability to strike North Korean missile sites, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.
Japan plans to put money aside in its next defence budget starting April to study whether its F-15 fighters could launch longer-range missiles, including Lockheed Martin Corp's extended-range Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM-ER), which can hit targets 1,000km away, said one the sources with knowledge of the plan.
"There is a global trend for using longer range missiles and it is only natural that Japan would want to consider them," he said. The sources asked to remain anonymous as they were not authorised to talk to the media.
Japan is also interested in buying the 500km-range Joint Strike Missile designed by Norway's Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace to be carried by the F-35 stealth fighter, Fuji Television reported earlier.
Neither of those two items are included in a 5.26 trillion yen (S$62.95 billion) budget request already submitted by Japan's Ministry of Defence. However additional funds would be made available to evaluate the purchase of these missiles, the sources said.
The change suggests that the growing threat posed by North Korean ballistic missiles has given proponents of a strike capability the upper hand in military planning.
Restrictions on strike weapons imposed by its war-renouncing Constitution mean Japan's missile force is composed of anti-aircraft and anti-ship munitions with ranges of less than 300km.
(Excerpt) Read more at straitstimes.com ...
Hopefully the need for these will soon be a moot point.
Good. They should show China the invoice.
And here we go. All that the norks have to do is have one of their tests land on Japan soil and the they will launch.
...and China. (And if they have more than a week’s warning, nukes.)
It won’t matter if the Norks can nuke them. They’re going to have to do better than this.
This might get China’s attention — “Look! Japan is re-arming! They are prepared for offensive strikes against nations on the Asian mainland! Thanks North Korea!!!”
The point isn’t so much “Japan could invade China” which is silly — but it brings back very unpleasant memories the last time Japan DID invade China. For 70 years, Japan has avoided the ability to wage offensive war in Asia. China likes that. They remember Nanking and all the rest. But now — because of North Korea — Japan is developing offensive capability.
I imagine that, psychologically, this pushes a lot of buttons in Beijing.
Something tells me they should see what Israel has to offer.
A few decades ago they would have built one. It would be better made, get better fuel economy and be offered at half the cost of current offerings.
Is Japan suffering the same thing that the US is ? Just gave up making innovative stuff ?
about time
Good. They should also be extended to hit China That should make Xi a bit more serious in controlling his North Korean pitbull
Note to China: Is this what you wanted to see?
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