Thread: Japan defense plan calls for aircraft carriers at sea and vigilance in space and cybe

Japan decided Tuesday to pursue the deployment of aircraft carriers for the first time since the end of World War II and beef up its defense in new domains of warfare, such as cyberspace, under its new 10-year defense policy.


The latest national defense guidelines, which will enable Japan to modify helicopter carriers so they can launch U.S.-made F-35B fighter jets, were adopted as the government sees the security environment as increasing in uncertainty amid China’s expanding military activities and rapid advances in technology.



“We need to develop truly effective defense abilities, rather than simply expanding traditional ones,” the government said in the policy, which covers a period from fiscal 2019 and is endorsed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet. The policy was last updated in 2013.


In the new guidelines, the government says China’s military activities in the East China Sea and other surrounding waters are a source of “strong concern” in the region, while warning of China’s quest for military supremacy in space and the cyber domain, which could enable the country to disrupt command and control systems.


As part of its efforts to enhance the defense of islands in the Pacific Ocean and other areas where not many airfields exist, the government said it plans to upgrade Izumo-class flat-top helicopter carriers to enable it to transport and launch fighter jets, such as F-35Bs.


“We will refit Maritime Self-Defense Force multipurpose helicopter destroyers so fighter jets capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings can be deployed when necessary,” the government said in its new five-year midterm defense buildup program, which was endorsed along with the defense guidelines the same day.


The idea, however, has already been criticized by some defense experts who call it a deviation from the country’s self-defense policy under the pacifist Constitution.


In an apparent effort to reassure the public, the government has stipulated in the defense buildup program that it has no intention of possessing an offensive type of aircraft carrier deemed to exceed the constitutional limit.


“The planned modification to the Izumo-class carriers is to increase their applications,” Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya told a news conference after the guidelines were approved.


Given that the ships will not constantly carry fighters, their operations will be defensive in nature and will not violate the Constitution, Iwaya added.


The government has placed considerable emphasis on the need to address the fields of cyberspace, outer space and electronic warfare, saying in the guidelines that the areas have the potential to “fundamentally change the shape of national security,” which has so far mainly focused on conventional ground, sea and air domains.


Noting the increasing need for the country’s ground, maritime and air units to act flexibly across all kinds of domains, the government says it will aim to form a “multidimensional joint defense force.”


The Self-Defense Forces are also expected to drastically improve their cyberdefense capabilities, such as by possessing an ability to obstruct the enemy’s use of cyberspace when the nation is under attack, it says.


But it may require careful consideration for Japan to carry out such “counterattacks,” as the country restricts the use of force for self-defense to certain conditions in light of the Constitution.


Further complicating the issue is the lack of an established definition of cyberattacks internationally, and it is also believed to be difficult to identify the attacking source at an early stage.


Regarding outer space, where Japan is seen to be lagging behind other countries in the race to gain military superiority, a new unit will be created inside the Air Self-Defense Force to continuously monitor space and act for the nation’s defense.


The government also plans to invest in artificial intelligence technologies and underwater drones.


To achieve the latest Medium Term Defense Program, which covers a five-year period from fiscal 2019, the government says it expects to spend around ¥27.47 trillion, a record high.


The program includes a plan to purchase a total of 18 fighter jets — apparently to put them on Izumo-class carriers — and install two U.S.-developed land-based Aegis missile systems to counter the North Korean nuclear and missile threat.


The defense budget has been on the rise under the administration of Abe, who took office in 2012. For the next fiscal year starting in April, the Defense Ministry has requested another record-high budget of about ¥5.3 trillion, including around ¥235 billion in costs related to the acquisition of the Aegis Ashore system.


With Japan purchasing U.S. defense equipment mainly through the foreign military sales arrangement, the government says in the latest defense guidelines it will seek to “streamline” the process to procure the sophisticated armaments “efficiently.”


Japan has been under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Buy American” policy.

The foreign military sales arrangement is used by Washington to prevent sensitive military technology from leaking, but critics say it is making Japan buy equipment at an asking price that is extremely expensive.


To secure enough SDF personnel as the country’s overall population ages and birthrates decline, the government says in the guidelines it plans to raise the retirement age of members and more actively recruit women.
New defense guidelines and midterm buildup program

The following is the gist of the new National Defense Program Guidelines and the fiscal 2019-2023 midterm defense buildup program approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday. Japan:

• will upgrade Izumo-class helicopter carriers so that they can transport and launch fighter jets.
• will buy 18 F-35B fighter jets capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings.
• will beef up defense in new domains of warfare such as cyber and outer space.
• aims to build “multidimensional” defense capabilities for operations across various domains.
• expresses “strong concern” over China’s military activities.
• will install two land-based Aegis missile systems.
• will spend over ¥27 trillion — a record — in the five-year period.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20.../#.XBjaaIpOmhA

The US shifted its defense focus to the Pacific under Obama. Nothing new here. The Japs don’t want an increase in US troops on Jap soil, quite the opposite.
The deployment of F35 fighters will mirror the UK operation taking greater responsibility for ops in the Atlantic and Med.
Like UK the Japs will have built in flexibility to use conventional airfields and carrier launched fighters.
Its a win win all around for the US.
As oh oh points out, the Chinese are an ever expanding threat in the Pacific, way beyond the need to defend its mainland.
Cyber is the biggest concern for all parties. With all sides increasingly reliant on complex hardware and the software to drive it, the opportunities for manipulation and misdirection are truly huge.

As far as I am aware, aircraft carriers are solely built for the projection of power. They are not a defensive weapon by any means.

Originally Posted by Switch

Its a win win all around for the US.

Indeed especially given Japan and South Korea are the only firm allies the US has in the region.

Originally Posted by nidhogg

As far as I am aware, aircraft carriers are solely built for the projection of power. They are not a defensive weapon by any means.

Primarily but also defensive in that they greatly extend the shore based defensive perimeter.

Originally Posted by Switch

As oh oh points out, the Chinese are an ever expanding threat in the Pacific, way beyond the need to defend its mainland.

Care to explain where I made such an assertion?

Originally Posted by OhOh

Care to explain where I made such an assertion?

No I don’t care to explain your communist sympathies. That is a matter entirely for you to do, as you have been doing on this forum since RT started issuing free tin foil hats.

So the Japs want the ability to attack one of our forward blue water navy bases on a stolen territory again? Interesting.



Pearl Harbor attack - December 1941

Hawaii Statehood - 1959

Originally Posted by Switch

No I don’t care to explain

Thanks for confirming your fake accusation.

Originally Posted by OhOh

Thanks for confirming your fake accusation.

It’s perfectly genuine. Who else but you would consistently refer to the US as ‘ameristan’?

You are just an embittered old fraud and a blatant Chinese sympathizer.

Originally Posted by Switch

It’s perfectly genuine.

I have never stated your accusation,

"As oh oh points out, the Chinese are an ever expanding threat in the Pacific, way beyond the need to defend its mainland".

My opinion is quite the opposite .

Originally Posted by Switch

Who else but you would consistently refer to the US as ‘ameristan’?

You are just an embittered old fraud and a blatant Chinese sympathizer.

As I explained many years ago, ameristan acts like any other 'stan. Spoken usually in a derogatory manner by western leaders against failed, corrupt countries. It obviously hits a sore point in your mind. Possibly you are the one who is embittered with ameristan and what it has become.

What makes you think I am embittered and what about?

I may be older than you, I don't know or care what your age is, I treat all here as intelligent human beings, until they show they aren't. Irrespective of age, sex or nationality.

Does that make me inferior in some way?

I applaud any leader/system who/which raises 70% of it's poor to a higher standard of living. Why wouldn't you? Not many countries have managed such a feat in the last 50 years.

Originally Posted by OhOh

I have never stated your accusation,

"As oh oh points out, the Chinese are an ever expanding threat in the Pacific, way beyond the need to defend its mainland".

My opinion is quite the opposite .



As I explained many years ago, ameristan acts like any other 'stan. Spoken usually in a derogatory manner by western leaders against failed, corrupt countries. It obviously hits a sore point in your mind. Possibly you are the one who is embittered with ameristan and what it has become.

What makes you think I am embittered and what about?

I may be older than you, I don't know or care what your age is, I treat all here as intelligent human beings, until they show they aren't. Irrespective of age, sex or nationality.

Does that make me inferior in some way?

I applaud any leader/system who/which raises 70% of it's poor to a higher standard of living. Why wouldn't you? Not many countries have managed such a feat in the last 50 years.

Raising standards is easy when you start at the bottom of the pile. You are clearly anti American. You are clearly pro Chinese.
Age does not enter the equation. I have issues with both country’s but I’m prepared to listen to reasoned debate on both sides. You have already decided where your support lies. I’m undecided on both counts.
Just quit with the obvious bias in every post. I think everyone knows where you stand by now.
You are incapable of reasoned debate, having decided already that your opinion is the only valid one.

Originally Posted by OhOh

Who exactly are the new weapons going to be used upon?

The Chinese People's Liberation Army, God-willing.

Originally Posted by SKkin

So the Japs want the ability to attack one of our forward blue water navy bases on a stolen territory again? Interesting.

Since the 7th Fleet is based in Yokosuka just outside Tokyo they would hardly need an aircraft carrier to do that.


Here is the world's first aircraft carrier



Hōshō commissioned in Tokyo bay in 1922

After all, the Japanes had not made so much harm to other world as the Koreans, had they? So, why not to be generous, let's allow them their bombs...

Like a bridge over troubled water .
Last years flood almost took it out.
Hey, new one under construction.Fu kishma.. wrong dread ...sowwy.

Originally Posted by Switch

I think everyone knows where you stand by now.
You are incapable of reasoned debate, having decided already that your opinion is the only valid one.

Thanks for your post.

When I came to TD many years ago there was very little news or comment putting an alternate view, especially when the topic was Asian, Russian or Chinese behaviour. As most posters were/are in the western, ameristani camp my voice is generally lost. As you are aware there are always many viewpoints on a subject and I try to add another. Now there are more supportive posts which adds to the overall discussion, IMHO. When I am shown factual evidence I admit my errors.

I do ask for evidence on many occasions it's true. Generally because the posters accusations are never backed with factual evidence only hearsay or very woolly phrases,"highly likely" for example. I do question many "reasoned" posts, for my own education but generally to illustrate the paucity of facts presented by other posters as such, with no evidence.

My own opinion is my own. It is never the only possible one. There are plenty of examples where I have been shown to be in error and I have acknowledged it, politely.

I do have problems with posters racist comments and point it out to them when I believe it is shown. We all have different levels of acceptance on different topics.

Originally Posted by Looper

Since the 7th Fleet is based in Yokosuka just outside Tokyo they would hardly need an aircraft carrier to do that.

True that...cousin Storekeeper was there. At 22 Trillion + $$ in debt how long do you think we can keep that presence? Stretched paper thin aren't we?

Originally Posted by SKkin

True that...cousin Storekeeper was there. At 22 Trillion + $$ in debt how long do you think we can keep that presence? Stretched paper thin aren't we?

Despite the depth of anti American feeling in places like Okinawa, the Jap government has no problem buying US hardware at inflated prices.
The American military will be welcomed in the Northern Territories, and the US military presence will remain focused on the Pacific.

Originally Posted by Switch

the Jap government has no problem buying US hardware at inflated prices.

Pretty sure they have their own debt problems...

Originally Posted by SKkin

Pretty sure they have their own debt problems...

I think their aging population and low birth rate is more of a concern to them right now.

Australia has purchased the USA F35 in fact 70 , so has Nippon, oh by the way Australia wants to desperately purchase the Nippon Submarine.
Nippon has a most advanced submarine force feared by Australia.