Japan is considering spending around 5 trillion yen (about 35 billion euros) to deploy long-range missiles from 2023 to 2027.
The Fumio Kishida government’s plan is aimed at a «counterattack capability» program, following rising tensions in the region over China’s military buildup and North Korea’s ballistic missile launches.
Of the amount budgeted in the plan, at least one trillion yen will be used to extend the range of ship-based surface guided missiles, as well as to diversify launch platforms.
About 800 billion yen will be earmarked for the development of high-speed airborne weapons for the defense of the archipelago’s southern islands, in addition to hypersonic missiles.
Along these lines, the ruling party has set a goal of nearly doubling the country’s defense spending to two percent of GDP, currently limited to one percent, by maintaining a constitutionally limited security posture of self-defense.
