THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Japan finalizes policy to build 2 Aegis ships, develop long-range missiles

Japan finalizes policy to build 2 Aegis ships, develop long-range missiles

Japan will build two Aegis-equipped ships to replace the ground-based interceptor system known as Aegis Ashore and also develop a long-range cruise missile that can strike beyond the range of enemy missiles, the government decided at a cabinet meeting on Friday.

In June, the government abandoned plans to deploy the Aegis Ashore system because of the risk of missile propulsion units landing outside bases, endangering nearby residents.

Three alternative proposals were studied: deploying destroyers including Aegis ships; using private ships; and building floating facilities offshore. A decision was made to install the system on destroyers, which are more resistant to enemy attacks and can be flexibly deployed across wide areas.

The Aegis ships will be equipped with the Aegis Ashore’s SPY7 radar and missile launchers and SM6 multifunctional antiaircraft missiles that can intercept ballistic and cruise missiles, to defend against possible attacks by North Korea and China.

The government will study further whether the new ships will have anti-ship and anti-submarine capabilities, as well as missile defense capabilities, earmarking ¥1.7 billion for research and other expenses in the next fiscal year’s budget.

The long-range cruise missile will be based on the Ground Self-Defense Force’s Type 12 surface-to-ship guided missile, and is expected to take five years to develop. The Type 12 has a range of just over 100 kilometers. The new missile is expected to have a range of about 1,000 kilometers and also have stealth capability. Development costs of ¥33.5 billion will be included in next year’s budget plan.

The Defense Ministry is also moving ahead with plans to introduce long-range missiles such as the U.S.-made JASSM air-to-ground missile with a range of about 900 kilometers to be mounted on F-15 fighters. The government is aiming to further strengthen Japan’s deterrence capability through the introduction of various types of missiles.

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had said in a statement before leaving office in September that the government would finalize by the end of this year a new missile defense policy, that could include possession of capabilities to attack enemy territory. However, the government decided at Friday’s Cabinet meeting to continue studying the policy next year.

The cabinet meeting did not refer directly to the new policy on missile defense out of consideration for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s junior coalition partner Komeito, which has been cautious about Japan’s possessing capabilities to attack enemy bases. Instead, discussions referred to efforts to “continue studying deterrence enhancements.”

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