Japan to buy advanced U.S. radar for missile defense system

elephant200July 2  12:11 pm JST

Maybe less than 10 years they will discover that system is obsoleted! If a country has vast area of both land and ses to launch ballistic missiles will be hard to response multiple direction attacks.Japan is very small, she cannot substain a single failure of interception! Remember all neighbouring countries has mobile launchers, the route if incoming missiles were unpredictable!

So you are saying that if a defense system is not 1000% perfect, then it's a waste of resources and shouldn't be implemented. Defense is futile and Japan may as well not bother defending itself and should surrender at the first sign of threat.

That's a very unrealistic and very defeatist attitude.

Had Britain had the same attitude prior to 1939 it wouldn't have implemented the extensive radar system along the south and east coasts of Britain. Although not perfect, it was sufficiently effective in detecting incoming German bombers and alert the British defense fighters to intercept the bombers. Had they not been in place, the outcome of the Battle of Britain would have been different and Britain would have had to surrender. Which is what the pacifists and defeatists wanted.

FYI: According to Japan Times, Japan Defense Ministry awarded the radar contract to Lockheed-Martin "due to its search capabilities and life-cycle costs, among other factors."

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/07/03/national/japan-picks-lockheed-martin-radar-missile-defense-system-ministry-official/#.WzsIi9VKiM8

Did Japan invade anyone while they closed themselves off to the rest of the world for about 200 years? Maybe all countries should do that.

borscht - they weren't militarized like they then became in the Meiji period. Look what happened once they were given weapons of destruction. As for closing borders and being reclusive - I guess you have no problem with North Korea's stance on that?

If Japan wanted to cut ties with all nations, they would most definitely become a target, and a weak one at that. It's not how the world works nowadays.

YuriOtani, who said 200 million imaginary troops ? What I said was 200 million brothers and sisters. They can come in a way 2000 years ago. Are Japanese children of Chinese ?

Maybe less than 10 years they will discover that system is obsoleted! If a country has vast area of both land and ses to launch ballistic missiles will be hard to response multiple direction attacks.Japan is very small, she cannot substain a single failure of interception! Remember all neighbouring countries has mobile launchers, the route if incoming missiles were unpredictable!

AgentX

Did Japan invade anyone while they closed themselves off to the rest of the world for about 200 years? Maybe all countries should do that.

With the war renouncing Article 9 in place, Japan can not easily build long range ballistic missiles of it's own to counter threats and act as a deterrent.

You guys are all fools if you can't see that the LDP warmongers are playing the long game. History repeating. The LDP certainly won't stop at missile defense. This is just an extra coin that Mario picks up on his way to the goal - which is to renounce article 9 when the time is ripe. Until then it can pull the victim card, as it is doing so well.

Unlike ALL the small nations nearby - when Japan has a strong offensive military - she uses it to invade those other small nations (and even China).

Don't believe me? Name ONE era in history.. ONE.. when Japan didn't invade, occupy or colonize said nearby small nations while it was armed to the teeth. You are fools if you can't see why GHQ muzzled Japan after the war. And probably ignorant to both your own ancestors' hardships and the hardships that the Japanese people were forced to suffer, too.

Akie, how will these 200 million imaginary troops get to Japan? Swim? Problem with your statement is China does not have 200 million troops.

Udondashi, what has China done to make her a real enemy of Japan ? Perhaps China should be doing things differently to be Japan's real ally.

@ Yuri Otani

Your answer is zero. President Trump hasn’t broken any treaties. The Iran deal was never an official treaty because President Obama never had it ratified by congress, which is why Trump could just wipe the deal out with a stroke of a pen. TPP was never completed either, which meant Trump could just decide not to be a signatory. He’s renegotiating the NAFTA treaty, but still abiding by the current treaty.

So to reiterate the point, Trump has honored all treaties while not agreeing to new ones and attempting to renegotiate others. That’s what a leader does, lead. Whether you or I agree with him or not he’s leading. It was disappointing to see our last president make such weak, easily undone agreements.

If missile defense systems don't work, why China putting them on South China Sea

The real enemy of Japan is China. Japanese government should manage their budget shortfall creating your intelligence agency because China currently is running information war against Japan.

econstats, stop making Japan a bad guy. Why would Japan attack NK when all Northeast Asians agree to resolve the problem peacefully ? Besides, it is illegal for Japan to make attacking missiles anyway.

Midnight Sun Tribe, you think too high about Japan, if not crazy. If there is a conflict between Japan and China militarily, Japan will be done in a few days, if not a few hours. All China needs to do is to send 200 million brothers and sisters to Japan, as Udondashi said.

It is stupid for Japan to call China a threat and make China an enemy. It only makes Japan more dangerous, not more safe. Historically, Japan was guilt party and Japan has no second chance to be guilt again.

Now Japan is a sandbag for 'Dart throwing championship'! Cant gurantee 100% immune from neighboring darts, they should not have sleep tight at midnight!

A missile defense system makes people feel better but against 500 or 1000 incoming missiles it would be less than useless. China could launch that many missiles simultaneously and saturate any defense system to ensure their targets are destroyed

Leaving no missiles as deterrent against an avenging US military. Doubt PRC has that many intercontinental ballistic missiles ready in the first place.

By the way firing 500 missiles with about a 60~70% success rate means only 300~350 missiles that are actually heading towards Japan. The remaining missiles would either fall short, completely go off trajectory and or explode midways.

As for AEGIS on shore they pack around 80 missiles.

There is no more dangerous threat to free people in the world than the CCP that control China. Unfortunately, Japan must continue to build up its defense until dictatorships like the CCP of China stop invading countries, building fake islands, and give up their nuclear missiles. No dictatorship should have such power.

A missile defense system makes people feel better but against 500 or 1000 incoming missiles it would be less than useless. China could launch that many missiles simultaneously and saturate any defense system to ensure their targets are destroyed. 2 or 3 defense systems with 20 or 30 defense missiles each, ready to fire will not stop the destruction. Against single missile strikes they would work fine.

That is why having the ability to do the same back to any potential enemy is the only deterrent that works.

Japan needs to start getting the same missile ability that China has if it wants to ensure its safety. You dont need the same numbers, just have enough to saturate their defenses and your deterrent is effective.

zichi, why would China start a world war in Northeast Asia, a home for people of the same colour ? If China wanted attack China, it could be done many thousand years ago when there was no America.

Akie, why did China build and continue to fortify that MILITARY base in the China Seas and continue to conduct naval war exercises near Taiwan? There are reports China intends to invade and forcibly annex Taiwan by 2020 or 2021.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2017/10/05/2003679744

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3268316

The fact is that China and Taiwan has different and incompatible political and economic ideologies that prevents unification.

What you don't seem to be willing to accept is the seeds of war are everywhere and rooted in the conflicts of interest manifested in incompatible political, economic, religious, ethnic, philosophical ideologies and prejudices. These are the reasons your idealistic Northeast Asia dream will never be a reality.

On the other hand, China is ultimately aiming for a "unified Northeast Asia" through its "One Belt One Road" program. Japan, South Korea, Taiwan are wary of China's program and its underlying economic, military, political and sovereignty ramifications.

I forgot to add the USA on the do you trust list. Do You trust the USA? Trump wants to hurt Japan with a 25 percent tariff on vehicles. Perhaps construction equipment and farm vehicles as well. Trump is USA first and only as his political platform. The Trump supporters are so brainwashed, they do not care if their jobs are lost because of tariffs. Japan would respond in kind and match any American tariffs. First Abe need to be removed from the office of Prime Minister. We need a PM that places Japan first! The way to true peace is not to be enemies with the countries that surround your nation. Then Japan would not need this overpriced radar.

@Zichi. They had an agreement to protect Georgia. I don’t have battery, google it.

Missile defense won’t work. It only encourages the enemy to build more missiles. No matter how advanced a missile defense system you have, you can’t shoot down all the incoming missiles. The only winner will be the US weapons industry.

Zichi,

America might have a treaty to protect Japan from invasion, but with the current so-called Orange in the WH, I wouldn’t be surprised if he said, “What’s in it for ‘Merica?” before ‘renegotiating’ it out of existence.

Alexandre T. IshiiToday  09:28 am JST

The R&D cost of those radar systems would be astronomical, and even if Japan could afford it, it wouldnt be available anytime soon. Japan needs the capability now. Also, the intercept vehicle (SM-3Blk2) is being jointly developed by the two countries.

Sad that humans haven't yet evolved enough to realize how stupid we are. Imagine what could be done if all countries agreed to halt 'defense' (or attack) spending for even 1 year.

@zichi. Try telling that to the people of Georgia when Russia attacked, America ran away and after the short war, returned to sell them...missile defense system. Nice little earner.

zichi, why would China start a world war in Northeast Asia, a home for people of the same colour ? If China wanted attack China, it could be done many thousand years ago when there was no America.

There must be a 25% tariff on the foreign products. Japan can easily build our own system better than this one. Create jobs here and we can export. Or, buy the S-500. Much better.

Ganbare Japan!, you are joking again. If Russia and China want attack Japan, do you think anyone in the world can stop it ?

@ Old man 13

The belligerent North Korean government (as well as Chinese) are not to be trusted.

Didnt you read news past 2 months? North Korea is no longer a threat to Japan. This new Aegis defense system is designed to protect from Russia and China.and money well spent.

Two strong Nations with two great leaders, working together to protect East Asia. Most dangerous time in Japan since the War, so Aegis is a new and amazing boost for defense. I am really happy to read this news today.

Didn't Dump recently declare NK no longer a threat after a vacation in Singapore with Lil'Kim?

I guess what happens in Singapore stays in Singapore. Move along, nothing to see here but another bait-and-switch by the Dump administration. Unless NK fires rockets again this year, you won't see NK mentioned in the US news cycle for the rest of 2018.

Japan buys a lot from USA the military stuffs, but no balance in trading tariffs Trump exposed. Abe needs a right calculator, a simulated and simultaneous one. Actually, I think Japan has all the technology to draw up any radar for missile defense system and why to pick out the purchasing from USA, waste of money to gain what?

If our neighbors were our friends, there would be no need for these expensive weapons systems. As for who to trust, who is more trust worthy? The Peoples Republic of China, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea or the Russian Federation. Question, how many treaties has Trump broken to date?

Unfortunately, Abe lied again. He said just a few weeks ago that China is not a threat, but an opportunity. I wonder when will Japan honestly educate people the truth that China isn't an invader?

Good for Japan! It's about time they started taking responsibility for their own national security. Hope those radars will be implemented on Okinawa too.

And for those who are against this procurement, remember when North Korea lobbed missiles over Japan and everyone was upset there was no advance warnings? How quickly we forget. And let's not forget China's increasing threat in the China Seas within the next few years as it takes steps to invade and annex Taiwan.

If radar and missile defense system is not readily available as a home-grown system, better to buy it from a country like the U.S. that is aligned and supportive with your government than one that is adversarial, i.e., Russia or China.

Japan has no choice but to upgrade their missile defense system. With the war renouncing Article 9 in place, Japan can not easily build long range ballistic missiles of it's own to counter threats and act as a deterrent. Which justifies an investment in a missile defense system that should be the most advanced in the world.

it'll have to be tested. So which is it; need missiles to prevent threatening neighbours, or threaten neighbours with missile tests?

A wise strategic move by Japan. The belligerent North Korean government (as well as Chinese) are not to be trusted.