Japan ruling parties eye talks on allowing anti-air missile exports

Is the timing of the missile evacuation drill just a coincidence? I hate to say it, but if WWIII starts, neither ducking and covering nor antimissile defense is going to save us.

obladiToday  07:05 am JST

I hate to say it, but if WWIII starts, neither ducking and covering nor antimissile defense is going to save us.

OK. Next time an alarm goes off just stand there and ignore it. Your choice.

Money doesn't smell, I suppose.

The question Japanese reporters should be perusing is: Who’d make a lot of money off lifting the ban?

A detailed list of politicians and company execs would be greatly appreciated.

The question Japanese reporters should be perusing is: Who’d make a lot of money off lifting the ban?

No the question should be, what are the advantages for Japan in doing so. I shall list just a few.

1, Increasing employment of Japanese people in Japanese factories producing high tech systems.

2, Helping friends and allies source needed munitions and armaments, to keep them safer and help their deterrence against regional foe's.

3, Strengthened friends and allies helps protect Japan and its interests as well as their own.

4, Any increase in capacity for manufacturing adds to the total available to all allies.

5, Helps Japan strengthen ties with friendly nations it has defense ties with.

And with the sale of surface-to-air missiles then a higher defense budget allows to buy necessary surface-to-air missiles, right? Very clever. LOL

Article 9 in the Constitution does not prohibit the sale of weapons. But under the long peaceful period for Japan since WWII other rules came into place, which while appearing to promote a peaceful existence, has in fact become an obstruction in today's world when both the West and East are facing military threats. Japan urgently needs to make changes in order to adapt to present circumstances. As every country is now doing.

Business.

As a victim of the atomic bombing, Japan should keep praying for peace and not engage in any military business. Unfortunately, more and more voices are pushing for weaponization.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki mayors, the Emperor too, should be louder. Their voices are the most important ones

As a victim of the atomic bombing, Japan should keep praying for peace and not engage in any military business.

Because history has show that peaceful people are always treated fairly and well. They are never invaded and enslaved. Wait, it is the opposite that is true.

So Some people want Japan to open themselves up to the "good will and intentions" of hostile nations? That is crazy talk.

Things rarely end well for the defenseless. Just look at the Palestinian people. Defenseless and now being killed by the thousands to pay for Hamas crimes. Ukraine being invaded and at the mercy of generous benefactors aiding their defence with donations, almost as much as the invaders themselves.

Yes, stay peaceful by all means, but do so with a big stick ready if necessary, to defend your rights to freedom and self determination, and that of your allies as well. That is the smartest move.

Not sure what the point of this discussion is, since there is no prospective buyer for Japanese SAMs.

@koiwaicoffee

The question Japanese reporters should be perusing is: Who’d make a lot of money off lifting the ban?

No one because there is no customer for Japanese SAMs.

Koreans literally had to demonstrate that their SAMs outperform Israeli SAMs in side-by-side shoot-out test before selling them to UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Not sure if Japan can demonstrate its SAMs outperform Israeli SAMs.

Koreans literally had to demonstrate that their SAMs outperform Israeli SAMs in side-by-side shoot-out test before selling them to UAE and Saudi Arabia.

For ground based air defense the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces operate Mistral, Shahine and Crotale from France along with I-Hawk, Patriot Pac-2, Redeye and Stinger from the US. The Saudis are supposed to co-produce THAAD in Saudi Arabia. They are not buying from the South Koreans.

UAE operates Patriot Pac-3, THAAD, the Russian Pantsir S1 and is on contract to buy Cheongung II KM-SAM.

There was no competition between the Korean and Israeli system. After the UAE signed on with the Koreans the Israelis made an offer of Barak 8 and said they could have them operational before the South Korean system.

Not sure if Japan can demonstrate its SAMs outperform Israeli SAMs.

Find out what the Type-03 Chu-SAM and Chu-SAM Kai are. Chu-SAM is the first surface to air missile to use an AESA radar. In operational testing at White Sands Missile Range Chu-SAM Kai has had a 100% success rate engaging targets from subsonic BQMs to the ducted rocket ramjet screamer GQM-163 Coyote. The US Army staff at WSMR were very impressed with the Japanese test team and with their missile.

https://www.army.mil/article/158283/japanese_test_engages_supersonic_target_on_wsmr

Btw, the UAE bought Cheongung II KM-SAM to fill a mid range gap between the short range point defense PAC-3 and long range THAAD and they wanted it sooner than the US could supply the larger and longer range PAC-3 MSE, for Missile Segment Enhancement. The buy was driven by an urgent need (to engage Houthi missiles and drones) and delivery time considerations.