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Japan ramping up defense spending
[Shoebat.com] The Japanese government is planning on creating the largest defense budget for its military since World War Two. The budget will be 5.17 trillion yen ($51.7 billion) for the 2017 fiscal year. It will be done, not just to intimidate China, but also to show the world that Japan still has the capabilities to be a very dangerous country. The plan includes upgrading the PAC-3 missile defense system, so that it can launch missiles at a farther distance, more than 30 km (19 miles), according to Reuters.

The Japanese will also be spending on the production of the Block IIA version of the Standard Missile-3 system, which it has been developing in conjunction with the United States, supposedly for the purpose of intercepting and shooting down missiles at higher altitudes. Japan also wants to create "a new submarine model with advanced detection capabilities." Japan, moreover, desires to and plans on purchasing "an upgraded version of the F-35 stealth fighter, made by Lockheed Martin Corp." Japan is also currently developing its own fighter jet, the F-2, which will be designed "to conduct ground-strike and close-air support missions" and "to maintain air defense capability and to ensure air superiority surrounding Japan." I find it concerning that the Japanese are interested in ground striking. Who do they want to strike? Who do they want to bomb? The last time Japan was involved in ariel striking, they bombed the US, China and other Asian lands.
Posted by: Besoeker 2016-08-23
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=465654