Hypersonic weapons, JASSM, JSM aircraft missiles and Type 12 anti-ship missiles with a range of 1,500km - Japan requests a record $52.9 billion for defence

Japan is strengthening its army. The Ministry of Defence of the Land of the Rising Sun wants a record defence budget.

Here's What We Know

The agency has requested a record $52.9 billion from the Ministry of Finance. It is about the defence budget for the fiscal year 2024, which in Japan begins on April 1, 2024 calendar year. The increase in funding is due to the DPRK provocations and the growing threat from China.

We have already written about Japan's desire to build two Aegis ships worth $2.6bn. They will be equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles, Type 12 anti-ship missiles, laser weapons, as well as SM-3 Block IIA and SM-6 interceptors. Now let's talk about ground forces and aviation.

Japan's Self-Defence Forces want to buy Type 12 land-based missiles, which will be launched from a truck. The range, although not immediately, but will be increased to 1500 kilometres. The Land of the Rising Sun is also investing in the development of hypersonic weapons. Here Japan will work together with the United States.

Another item of expenditure is aircraft missiles. The first is the Joint Strike Missile (JSM). This is an aircraft version of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) anti-ship missile. The second is the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM). The U.S. State Department recently approved the sale of more than a hundred JASSM missiles.

Source: Defence News