Japanese Government Earmarks ¥373.1 billion for 2 Aegis-Equipped Vessels; Response to North Korea’s Ballistic Missile Threat
16:00 JST, December 23, 2023
The government has earmarked ¥373.1 billion of its fiscal 2024 budget for the production of two Aegis-equipped vessels capable of intercepting enemy missiles. The fiscal 2024 budget proposal was approved by the Cabinet on Friday.
The government aims to strengthen missile defense capabilities in response to the threat of North Korea’s ballistic missiles.
Production is set to begin in fiscal 2024, and the two vessels are scheduled to be commissioned in fiscal 2027 and 2028 respectively.
The vessels are alternatives to the abandoned ground-based Aegis Ashore project.
New Aegis-equipped vessels will be more capable of intercepting missiles than any of the current eight Aegis-equipped destroyers operated by the Self-Defense Forces.
The defense budget also included ¥9.3 billion for the cost of creating a joint operational command headquarters, which will be established by the end of fiscal 2024.
The joint headquarters will command Ground, Maritime and Air defense forces in an integrated manner. It will be established with 240 staff members in Tokyo’s Ichigaya area.
The defense budget also secured ¥20.6 billion for works related to a defense innovation technology research institute which will be newly established in fiscal 2024. The institute is modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency under the U.S. Defense Department.
"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)
-
Official Campaigning Kicks Off for Japan’s House of Representatives Election; Party Leaders Hit Campaign Trail
-
How House of Representatives Elections Work; Explaining Proportional Representation, Revival Victory
-
Early Voting Begins for Japan’s 2024 House of Representatives Election; System Becoming More Widely Used Since Introduction in 2005
JN ACCESS RANKING
- JICA Employee Suspected of Leaking Info on ODA Project in Manila; Bidding for Railway Renovation May Have Been Impacted
- G20 Sees Soft Landing for Global Economy; Leaders Pledge to Resist Protectionism as Trump Calls for Imported Goods Flat Tariff
- Japanese Automakers Team Up on Software Development; Aim to Compete with U.S., China in SDV Market
- 2024 POLLS: Ruling Camp Likely to Win Lower House Majority
- China Spokesperson Avoids Commenting on Hidankyo’s Nobel Prize; Claims Country Holds Antinuclear Stance