Japan, US to Develop Hypersonic Missile Interceptors by 2030s

May 16, 2024

Japan and the US recently decided to work together to make interceptors that can shoot down hypersonic missiles. A contract worth more than $3 billion was signed between the two countries to make this deal official. The idea came from a meeting in August at Camp David, where South Korea was also present.

Hypersonic Missile Threat

Hypersonic weapons technology has come a long way in areas close to Japan, which is why this development is so important. Today’s missile defence systems have a hard time keeping up with hypersonic weapons, which can fly at speeds over five times the speed of sound and have unpredictable flight paths.

More About Japan-United States military collaboration

Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security (1960): This deal makes the area safer and is the basis for military cooperation between the US and Japan.
Limits After World War II: Japan’s pacifist constitution, which was made after the war, at first limited its armed power.
Self-Defense Forces (SDF): Japan’s Self-Defense Forces have been around since 1954 and work closely with U.S. troops, even though the constitution doesn’t allow it.
Collaboration Has Grown: Because of dangers from China and North Korea, there is more cooperation now.
Revised Defence Guidelines (2015): These rules let Japan be more involved in maintaining world peace, which makes the partnership even stronger.
Key Installations: Okinawa is home to several large U.S. military bases that are important for the security of the surrounding area.
Joint Drills: Exercises like Keen Sword show that Japanese and U.S. troops can work together very well.
Sharing of Technology: As part of the partnership, advanced technologies are being shared, such as missile defence systems and the creation of next-generation stealth planes.

More About Japan’s defence budget and policies

Japan’s defence budget for fiscal year 2023 is a record-breaking ¥6.8 trillion, which is a 20% rise from the previous year. This is because Japan is taking a more assertive stance on defence. Japan has been limited in the past by a pacifist constitution that was made after World War II. However, recent strategy reviews have led to policies that emphasized improving missile defence and cyber warfare capabilities. Japan is building up a counterstrike potential, which is a big change caused by North Korea and China’s threats in the area. Additionally, the government wants to double the amount it spends on defence, reaching 2% of GDP by 2027. To do this, it plans to use more cutting-edge technologies in defence, such as drones and AI.

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