politics

Tomahawks part of Japan's record defense spending next year

51 Comments
By MARI YAMAGUCHI

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51 Comments
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Present Japan is like this.

"of course, the people don't want war. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

4 ( +19 / -15 )

With 6.8 trillion yen, Japan could do many good things for the well-being of its people, instead of following the pathetic geopolitical whims of the US with its fear that China will take away its world hegemony..

"of course, the people don't want war. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

Sad true, that's how it is and it has always been thanks to the pathetic patriotic war lovers..

8 ( +20 / -12 )

Additionally, Japan will pay the United States 110 billion yen for equipment and software needed to launch Tomahawks, as well as fees for the technology transfer and staff training in the coming year, defense officials said.

Correction: Japan will pay United States defense contractors 110 billion yen.

Defense contractors which are already generously supported by the American taxpayer. Which will see none of this as the money will go to the company shareholders.

It's a beautiful scam if you can get in on it.

10 ( +21 / -11 )

Are we allowed to say, "tomahawk" or is it cultural appropriation?

2 ( +13 / -11 )

When 25% of children are in poverty it does seem abusive to spend what would be a subsistence amount of money for ten families for 1 rocket! That will never be used. Priorities are Wakky.

-1 ( +11 / -12 )

Given the abject failure of the US in Afghanistan and the overt willingness of NATO to cross the clear red line Russia drew regarding Ukraine joining NATO, and the resulting dstruction of the Ukraine with the cheer leading by NATO as thousands die, it is imperative that Japan become completely self reliant for defence.

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

The US defence industry is the commercial arm of the Senate where retired generals go to. Of course there will always be war and war mongering. Japan should apply to be the 51st state and get better value for its money

4 ( +11 / -7 )

Good luck firing them anywhere a S-400, 500 of 550 missile defense system.

but can just more as they really cheap.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

When 25% of children are in poverty it does seem abusive to spend what would be a subsistence amount of money for ten families for 1 rocket! That will never be used. Priorities are Wakky.

True. But the problem with defense is deficiencies only become apparent in hindsight.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

I knew I would get a lot of down votes but imagine that China draws a red line that the Senkaku Islands

remain unoccupied. The US, just to prove a point goads Japan into landing a small group of JSDF onto one of the islands and then the US backs away from the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation. The US would have its war to degrade China and would cheer on Japan while it is destroyed.

Japan needs to be able to defend itself without the US.

Is the US really a trusted partner?

2 ( +7 / -5 )

What a bunch of missiles is gonna make a difference?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Shinjuku and Ginza will be targeted by Russia,NK and China when a war come to Japan

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

Good luck firing them anywhere a S-400, 500 of 550 missile defense system.

So far Russia's numerous S-400 systems have let an awful lot of Ukrainian drones and missiles leak through. Tomahawk flies very low, down canyons and valleys, even down city streets where terrain, vegetation and even buildings can hide them from detection by their radars. They don't emit anything that is detectable, relying on TERCOM and Digital Scene Mapping to get to their targets. One of the reasons the US has stuck with Tomahawk is their ability to evade detection combined with their accuracy.

Lots of faster and sexier weapons have been tested over the years like ASALM and ALVRJ, ASALM even nudges hypersonic speeds, and the US operates a solid fuel ramjet powered Mach 2+ target called GQM-163 Coyote that simulates stuff like Moskit or Brahmos, highly realistic targets for ships and land based systems to shoot at, so it is not as if the US doesn't know how to build and operate such screamers. The US built the first ducted rocket ramjets back in the 1950s. But having hands on with both kinds of weapons the US knows a low flying subsonic Tomahawk gets to the target reliably. The physics of going that fast sometimes makes the weapon less likely to find its target.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Great news for the arms reliant economy of the rogue state of the USA.

-3 ( +11 / -14 )

Defense officials said they plan to test a number of foreign-developed UAVs, including Turkish-made Bayraktar

Japan now imports everything, from machine guns, artillery shells, armored personnel carriers, cruise missiles, and now unmanned combat drones, from sources as wide as Turkey.

But what can Japan do, Japan needs weapons now but Japanese defense industry has collapsed.

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

On top of Bayraktar which Japan will surely import after its Ukraine fame, this is the next Turkish military equipment that Japan is likely to import.

https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/turkish-yoruk-4x4-among-5-finalists-in-japanese-armored-vehicle-tender

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Good luck firing them anywhere a S-400, 500 of 550 missile defense system.

There was a time in the 1990s when the US was buying a version of the Zvezda-Strela Kh-31 Krypton to use as a target. At the time the US Navy was using converted Talos missiles renamed Vandal as a target. Talos/Vandal a big liquid fueled ramjet screamer used to simulate big supersonic low level screamer enemy missiles so the fleet had something realistic to shoot at. The company converting Talos missiles into Vandal targets decided to quit leaving the Navy without fast cruise missile surrogate.

To fill the gap while the Navy came up with a permanent solution, the Navy negotiated a deal with the Russians to buy Kh-31s converted to targets. It was called MA-31 in US service. They were launched by F/A-18s and F-16s. I happen to know some of the personnel who operated them. They never performed as advertised. They could only hit their Mach 2+ top speed at 40,000 feet altitude. The US Navy needed something that could hit Mach 2 at sea level and the MA-31 could barely muster Mach 1 at sea level. The radar altimeters and flight controls could not hold a low enough altitude to meet the US Navy's need for a high speed low level target. They lacked sufficient range to give the presentation the Navy was looking for. The Russian launch rails were wobbly and judged highly unsafe so the Navy modified an existing US launch rail to take the MA-31. Boeing came up with a series of mods that would have addressed the shortcomings with range and altitude control but the Russian Navy officers present for Boing's presentation were offended by Boeing's critique and that ended the program. The fanbois greatly exaggerate the quality of Russian equipment.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

That American war machine needs feeding!

1 ( +8 / -7 )

What is Japan's command structure? Who and by what process decides to fire missiles against a foreign adversary?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

You can split Tokyo in 42 equal blocks of 1.9 miles and target all the neighborhood of Tokyo equal,

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Jpn has been breaking new highs for defense spending every year from when Abe came into power in 2012.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

fully - ideological incompetent dimwits is more my page. There is apparently no thought other then their actions. Stupidity compounded by stupidity seems to rule the day in Japan. Even the defence personal are shacking their heads.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Having strike capability to enemy base that LDP government call "counterstrike capability" is intimidation by military power, It's already constitutional violation.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

These purchases must represent a joined up deterrent policy.

Adjacent, supposedly friendly neighbours must be fully in agreement.

The first strike capability must be backed up with a tactical, strategic off shore final deterrent.

No other way sorry.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

A sensible list of munitions and capability expansion by Japan and doing so on a fast track due to the surrounding threat of neighbors preparing for conflict. They dont have much choice as long as they are surrounded by warmongering nations like China and North Korea.

I am sure they would rather spend the money on other things but with hands tied, needing to do what they can to ensure Japans remains free and safe, they are acting responsibly and ensuring prudent purchase of needed equipment.

Lots of anti US sentiment in this topic, as happens whenever Japan increases self defense ability to combat those who prefer to make enemies rather than friends. When China and co stand down and stop wanting power over everyone else and spend less on their militaries, then Japan can also spend less on defense.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Spending on am sure they would rather spend the money on other things but with hands tied, needing to do what they can to ensure Japans remains free and safe, they are acting responsibly and ensuring prudent purchase of needed equipment.

are you kidding, first a one party state, second a government intentionally trying to finish what their great grandfathers were trying to do, where killing millions for total dominance of Asia was ok. Make Japan a nice place to work and live in first. Then defend it. Their hands are not tied as they haven’t been for decades, they just don’t care. Excuse’s are worthy of scrutiny and Japans fail the test.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Tomahawks part of Japan's record defense spending next year:

Jumping 20% to a record 6.8 trillion yen in 2023?

More, more. It is just a budget on paper, in reality it could go far above that.

US is monitoring Japan's beefing up its defense persistently, notably the navy.

Hence..

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

With the problems Japan has and will face in the near future, this waste of public funds is a disgrace. And all because the US cannot keep up with China's economic advance.

Wake up Japanese people! Unhitch yourself from the US and it's ever hungry arms industry.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

US is monitoring Japan's beefing up its defense persistently, notably the navy.

It is Japan that is neighbors with these warmongers, not the US. Missiles are flying over and around Japan not America. Japan is rightly concerned with the unending military arm buildups neighboring countries are carrying out for the purpose of starting and winning a war. Naturally Japan feels the hot breeze blowing up it's skirt and realizes it better be prepared to defend at short notice.

first a one party state, second a government intentionally trying to finish what their great grandfathers were trying to do, where killing millions for total dominance of Asia was ok.

You worry Japan will invade Asia to dominate it because a couple of generations ago they tried and were so badly beaten they value peace above all else now? Thats just crazy talk.

Make Japan a nice place to work and live in first. Then defend it.

No, Japan must be able to defend itself at all times, thats what it aims to do. So many here want a weak Japan so that China can one day rule it, as it apparently believes it has a right to. Like Russian belief that Ukraine and its people belong to Russia as Russian serfs.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

all of us taxpayers will need to collect loads of cash for illusion of safety,while make life a few great and millions more miserable.

warmongering at its best all in name of USA and their interests.

Fumio you can be "proud"...

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

CrickyToday  07:38 am JST

When 25% of children are in poverty it does seem abusive to spend what would be a subsistence amount of money for ten families for 1 rocket! That will never be used. Priorities are Wakky.

Yes, it seems that way, but there are certain, leaders, countries, who blame all their problems on others, and see war as a way to deflect the public from the ills of home to come together around an bigger national calling. So while some may find it terrible, it is probably the best insurance policy we have against poverty getting worse via war. The figure show that since 1945 there are fewer wars than ever, more people were lifted out of pure poverty, and the average life expectancy has improved more than ever. War never improves a countries economy, the truth is, the fear, worry and anxiety of war, and the investment that goes with it, does actually improve the economy, and probably makes the world a safer place. ( we not like it, or agree with it, but that's fundamentally the facts)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japan now imports everything, from machine guns, artillery shells, armored personnel carriers, cruise missiles, and now unmanned combat drones, from sources as wide as Turkey.

Not true. Not even close to true. Japan designs all of its warships, pretty much all of their radars except the AN/SPY-1s used on their eight big DDGs, all of their sonars, torpedoes, decoys, much of their minesweeping equipment, their big maritime patrol plane the Kawasaki P1, their big C-2 cargo plane, the numerous F-2 fighters, the JGSDFs excellent OH-1 helicopter, all of the JGSDFs tanks (though the Type 90 was a collaborative effort with Kraus Maffei) and their assault weapons. Japan makes several surface to air, surface to surface, air to surface and air to air missiles. In house Japanese designs. Most of the rest is manufactured in Japan by Japanese companies under license. All those KV-107s and CH-47 Chinooks in the JGSDF are built in Japan. Same for the SH/MH-60s in the JMSDF. The Kawasaki P-1 is replacing the over 100 P-3Cs that the Japanese built under license. The Italian and American deck guns on Japanese ships are license built copies, not imports. Japanese industry builds the great majority of Japan's military hardware.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

There will be some happy shareholders somewhere

1 ( +2 / -1 )

This is good for Nippon. They must protect themselves.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

If Japan built their own weapons, would the US continue selling China and NK fear?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Japan must be willing and able to defend itself, if it wants to survive. Very simple.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Are we allowed to say, "tomahawk" or is it cultural appropriation?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/simon-waxman-tomahawk-missiles-apache-helicopters-just-as-offensive-as-redskins/2014/06/26/16c18738-fc9a-11e3-932c-0a55b81f48ce_story.html

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So the Japanese are preparing to go to war in a futile attempt to help maintain Amurikan imperial hegemony which btw is on a fast track to joining the dodo bird in extinction? Suckers!

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Peter14,I am an American,why are so pro American,maybe because America is the only country thank will save you

0 ( +2 / -2 )

DT,you had a security clearance while in the service,do you think you are sworn under US State secret

1 ( +2 / -1 )

This is a great thing. it's about time that Japan start realizing that China is a real threat as is North Korea. Getting top of the line USA made military equipment is smart. Much better than Russian junk.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Alas. Article 9 of the Japanese constitution, a clause that renounces war as a means to settle international disputes, has become virtually nonexistent.

The Kishida government, however, is insistent on saying that the new national security strategy (NSS) is still within an allowance of the constitution. Is it really?

Of course, no other countries should take advantage of Japan under this constitutional constraint and threaten it with an arms buildup.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

If Japan built their own weapons, would the US continue selling China and NK fear?

The US isn't selling anything by way of fear. China and DPRK by their own words and acts are the source of the fear. The US isn't launching ballistic missiles over Japan, DPRK is. The US isn't claiming the Senkaku Islands are US territory, it is China claiming the Senkaku Islands as theirs, while simultaneously threatening to invade and conquer Taiwan and is building a huge military force that is increasingly able to conquer the lands China claims as their own. Yes Japan produces the great majority of the arms used by its SDF, but those arms are no longer sufficient for the current and future anticipated threat.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

DT,you had a security clearance while in the service, do you think you are sworn under US State secret

Everything I mention comes from open sources that you can read as easily as I do. Follow on line publications like Defense News, Maritime Executive, The Drive, The Diplomat, USNI (US Naval Institure) News, etc. Some of what I mention here turns up in Middle East Eye, AL Monitor and Al Jazeera. Sometimes I just look at unclassified US budget submissions on Comptrollers web pages for each branch of the service (btw, most democratic governments have similar unclassified budget submissions you can find on line if you take the time). Those tell you unit costs and production volumes among other things. You can learn a lot just by reading unclassified US budget documents. There are multiple web pages for example describing the MA-31, even some videos of them being launched where you can see how shaky the launch rail is. Kludge.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

So the Japanese are preparing to go to war in a futile attempt to help maintain Amurikan imperial hegemony which btw is on a fast track to joining the dodo bird in extinction?

Without the alliance with the US, China would destroy Japan in revenge for WWII. There is no way Japan could defend herself alone against China. But China won't pick a fight with the US, at least not today, but the way their military is expanding in size and especially in their technology the fear is that pretty soon without Japan, Australia and the US expanding their own military forces China could possibly take Taiwan, Okinawa and perhaps the main islands of Japan.

China doesn't respect weakness. You see how they have pushed the Philippines out of their own islands. What you don't read a lot about is how armed Chinese fishermen assault South Koreans fishing inside their own EEZ while a Chinese Coast Guard Cutter lurks in the distance. This happens in international waters but also inside South Korea's EEZ. Chinese fishing fleets conduct similar assaults on Vietnamese fishermen and surprisingly Chinese squid fishing boats have displaced North Korean fishermen from their own home waters. Now the Chinese claim the entirety of the Ryukyu Island to be "Japanese occupied", denying they are sovereign Japanese territory while openly claiming the Senkaku Islans to be part of China. How long do you think Japan could keep the Senkaku Islands and the entire Ryukyu chain without US help and without a sufficiently well armed SDF?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Those who claim Japan's disarming here should go and post to PROC's media. Then your hope come true.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

China already knows everything about the Tomahawk.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

At long last Nippon re-joins the world of nations staunchly defending freedom! Given they have spent so little on defense in the past, I think they should quadruple the defense budget immediately and at the same time, give their military soldiers the same deference that US servicemen get in the US. What is the Japanese phrase for "We thank you for your service.". Like South Korea and Singapore, compulsory military service for graduating students will solve the shortage of soldiers I read about. It will also bring more discipline to the unruly youth in Shibuya.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

YrralDec. 24 08:20 pm JST

Peter14,I am an American,why are so pro American,maybe because America is the only country thank will save you

Save Australia from what? We have never started a war, we support allies when they are at war. Allies like America, England etc. So you think the US will save my country from a war you start of find yourself in, while you get Australian support in that conflict?

Article 9 of the Japanese constitution, a clause that renounces war as a means to settle international disputes, has become virtually nonexistent.

That means Japan must never start a war to settle a dispute. A first strike would break Article 9 but defending Japan if it is attacked does not go against article 9.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The U.S. government has been urging Japan to up its defense budget from the 1 % cap of its GDP to 2%.

The irony is the bulk of the increased budget goes to the purchase of U.S.-made Tomahawks. What a world!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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