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Mitsubishi eyes technological leap, and exports, with armoured vehicle

15 Comments
By Tim Kelly and Nobuhiro Kubo

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15 Comments
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And here is yet another of the main reasons for Abe's push to change the current system -- weapons sales to boost big company and personal profits. Who cares who eventually gets the weapons, and whom they kill with -- as long as you make a few bucks.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

ya, shinzo has turned japan from a friendly loving international country to a amerika trying to control regions by weapons country. 10 years ago japan was not known at all for military capabilities. now abe has given the perfect image to japan to help china point fingers

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Amphibious assaults are facing a growing problem of anti-access/area denial these days, simply because the LPDs/LHAs are too expensive to risk close to the shore. I'm not sure why we couldn't get the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle to work.....the Chinese have a similar bowplane-equipped amphibious IFV, the ZBD-2000, which seems to work fine, albeit at only ~15knots water speed. That's still double what an AAV7 is making.

I'd like to see some sort of hydrofoil-type high-speed boats for moving armored vehicles, similar to an LCAC. They can get the IFVs close to shore at really high speeds and then drop them in the shallows just short of the beach. Then you wouldn't need any swimming capabilities on your ground combat vehicles beyond what we are already technologically capable of. The only complication is designing a hydrofoil vessel that can move 30-ton armored vehicles and still be able to fit enough of them inside the well deck of an amphibious assault ship.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Just another tool for killing people, either its occupants or the other side. This sordid little snippet is just another dimension of the PM's desire to militarize Japan. Given all its other problems, why does Japan need its own military-industrial complex devoted to exports? Aren't the weapons developed by Uncle Same sufficient? Don't get me wrong, I'm not a latte-swilling, tree-hugging hippie, but does Japan really need this sort of industry?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I've seen two times in the last week during the evening programs covering the JSDF. Coincidence?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

does Japan really need this sort of industry?

Of course not. It's a pisspoor return for immense reputational damage.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Given all its other problems, why does Japan need its own military-industrial complex devoted to exports? Aren't the >weapons developed by Uncle Same sufficient? Don't get me wrong, I'm not a latte-swilling, tree-hugging hippie, but >does Japan really need this sort of industry?

Spot on. It's just a form of corporate welfare, really. The total R&D and production costs for uniquely Japanese combat platforms such as the F-2 fighter and Type90 tank were a complete waste. The capabilities delivered are not significantly different from what Japan can easily buy from the US or Germany, and the hardware is too expensive to compete with established arms suppliers on the global market. All those engineers would be better employed at Toyota or something.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

How else are Pacific island nations expected to react to China's territorial and maritime belligerency? She is constantly introducing new systems and equipment to muscle her way around. This is reality.

Just sit back, do nothing, and rely on old defensive equipment?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Now that Japan can export weapons.... its only common sense that Japanese Industry will look at weaponry from around the world and see if they can build something better with their technology. I disagree that this is Corporate Welfare. It is the reality of the times and if you're good at it it subsidizes your own military.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Japan must and should arm itself!

Just like EVERYBODY ELSE.

A fully re-armed Japan, with nuclear tipped missiles ready to launch from subs (as some American strategists pointed out, cheaper) is guaranteed to press China on becoming a good boy and get back to sucking on their dummy.

We all know that the F-22 was a "failure" because of American interference. It's well documented.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I am pacifist, but I fully support Japan to rearm herself. Simply because Asia needs Japan to stand up against China, no one else could.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Only those with financial interest seeing more weapon build do support this. As a world citizen, I want to see less weapon build, less armies and less warmongers.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I am neither a financial beneficiary, nor a warmonger, yet I fully support Japan's re-armament.

It's all nice and dandy to be a pacifist and demand/expect that Japan (and ONLY Japan) remains toothless and at the mercy of any Tom, Dick and Harry!

Meanwhile China, (include mine and your country as well) is armed to the teeth! And keep on adding more death delivering capabilities while some expect Japan to remain vulnerable to any predator.

I am glad now Japan has got a leader with a pair, and who for all his faults understands that this emasculation must be brought to an end ASAP.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Now that Japan can export weapons.... its only common sense that Japanese Industry will look at weaponry from >around the world and see if they can build something better with their technology. I disagree that this is Corporate >Welfare. It is the reality of the times and if you're good at it it subsidizes your own military.

Key words: "if you're good at it"

Japanese hardware:

-costs as much or more than comparable US, German, or Israeli systems

-isn't combat proven

-is manufactured by a country with a reputation for poor foreign language support (good luck getting your military maintenance personnel trained)

Who in their right minds would allow their national defense to rely on a supplier with those conditions?

I'm not saying Japan shouldn't re-arm, I'm just saying they could field a larger and more capable Army and Air Force if they focused more on imported hardware from their allies, instead of trying to re-invent the wheel domestically. And they sure as hell can't justify spending billions of $ on R&D by claiming "potential sales" in the already-crowded global arms export market.

The main exception seems to be their Navy. Japan's shipbuilding industry is healthy enough to support domestic warship design and construction at reasonable prices. For example, the Izumo-class carries about half the aircraft of an America-class....but also costs about half as much. So the prices are roughly in line with other large full-deck aviation-oriented warships.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Depending on foreigners for your defense and weapons procurement is foolish. Weapons for the Japanese by the Japanese will give the Japanese defense industry experience and allow them to turn out higher and higher quality products over time.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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