Japan Defense Ministry Seeks ¥930 Billion for Ammunition; Cutting-Edge Missile Development Also in Budget
1:00 JST, September 2, 2023
The Defense Ministry has included ¥930.3 billion for securing ammunition in its fiscal 2024 budget request, aiming to strengthen Japan’s ability to fight for a long period of time.
It also requested ¥2.35 trillion for maintenance and improvement to maximize the use of equipment. The ministry is to drastically beef up its defense capabilities with a Taiwan contingency in mind.
“We must keep implementing necessary projects steadily and speedily in the next fiscal year, which is the second year of our effort to drastically boost Japan’s defense capabilities,” Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said Thursday at a ministry meeting.
The budget request includes ¥379.7 billion for the construction of two Aegis-equipped ships, with the first to be commissioned in fiscal 2027 and the second in fiscal 2028, as well as ¥75 billion for Japan-U.S. joint development of a new type of missile that can intercept hypersonic glide vehicles at the gliding stage. The missiles are expected to be installed aboard the Aegis-equipped ships.
Steady progress will also be made in the development and acquisition of long-range missiles that are essential for counterattack capability, such as allocating ¥32 billion for the development of new surface-to-ship and surface-to-surface precision guided missiles.
Regarding organizational structure, a permanent joint headquarters will be established in Tokyo’s Ichigaya district at the end of next year to centrally command all three branches of the Self-Defense Forces. The ministry will also establish a SDF maritime transport unit to deploy joint forces flexibly in the southwestern region of the country.
"Politics" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
2024 POLLS: Ruling Camp Likely to Win Lower House Majority
-
Japan Election: Komeito Leader Keiichi Ishii Fails to Win Seat in Election; Party to Be Forced to Restructure Administration (Update 1)
-
Japan Election: Japan’s Ruling Bloc Could Seek Broader Coalition Amid Turmoil; CDPJ Hoping to Trigger Change of Government
-
Japan’s Special Diet Session likely to Open Nov. 11; Politicians Will Vote to Select Prime Minister
-
Japan Election: CDPJ Eyes Bringing Together Anti-LDP Forces; Differences with DPFP, JIP Could Be Obstacles
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Streaming Services Boost Anime Popularity Overseas; Former ‘Geeky’ Interest More Beloved Among Gen Z than 3 Major U.S. Sports
- G20 Sees Soft Landing for Global Economy; Leaders Pledge to Resist Protectionism as Trump Calls for Imported Goods Flat Tariff
- 2024 POLLS: Ruling Camp Likely to Win Lower House Majority
- Chinese Social Media Still Full of Anti-Japanese Posts 1 Month After Boy’s Fatal Stabbing; Malicious Videos Gain Large Number of Views
- Chinese Rights Lawyer’s Wife Seeks Support in Japan; Sophie Luo Calls for Beijing to Free Ding Jiaxi, Xu Zhiyong