Japan Looking to Expand Missile Defense & Military Spending

DDG176 Chokai(click to view full) In the wake of seven recent missile tests by North Korea, including what is now seen as the possible failure within 2 km of launch for the longest-range Taepodong-2 missile, Japan’s self-defense forces and the defense committee of the governing LDP party are proposing an expanded defense budget that includes a higher priority on and higher spending for missile defense. Meanwhile, a February 2006 Armed Forces Journal article offers an interesting take on Japanese defense cooperation and procurement trends more generally. Other recent articles put the issue of Japanese defense spending into a larger context within that nation’s shifting security environment. Missile Defense Gaining Momentum Patriot PAC-3[Lockheed-Martin photo] Japan already has a strategic agreement with the USA to develop and deploy missile defense systems. The FY 2007-2008 budget plan reportedly requests a 1.5% rise in overall spending, including YEN 219 billion (about $1.88 billion) for missile defenses, up 56.5% from the current YEN 140 billion appropriation for FY 2006-2007 (that year’s budget request had been YEN 150 billion). These funds reportedly include appropriations for an SM-3 long range naval SAM/ABM missile test from a Japanese Kongo Class destroyer, as well as funds to accelerate Japan’s […]