Japan raises defense spending to record high in 2017

On December 2, Japanese media quoted sources from Tokyo as saying that the Japanese government is planning to increase defense spending in fiscal year 2017 (effective from April 2017) to a record 5,100 billion Yen, equivalent to 46.4 billion USD.

Photo illustration / DefenseTalk.

One of the main reasons for Tokyo's decision to increase its defense budget is to strengthen its missile defense system against the threat from North Korea.

Tokyo calculates that a significant portion of its 2017 defense budget will be spent on purchasing new missile complexes for the Japan Self-Defense Forces, to counter the possibility of ballistic missile attacks and to counter sophisticated enemy reconnaissance submarine units.

Japan's Ministry of Defense plans to spend about $1 billion to upgrade its PAC-3 missile defense system to counter North Korea's recent missile launches. After being upgraded, the system's defense capabilities will be nearly doubled, with the ability to intercept ballistic targets at a distance of 30km.

In addition, the 2017 defense budget is also dedicated to producing the Block IIA version of the Standard Missile-3 missile system jointly developed by the US and Japan to enhance ship-based missile defense capabilities.

Along with that, the Japanese Ministry of Defense also ordered additional 5th generation F-35 stealth fighters manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

Military experts say that Japan has been forced to change its austerity policy in the defense and security sector that has been maintained for the past five years due to existing threats in the region. It is known that Japan's total defense spending in 2016 was 5,050 billion Yen.

According to People's Army