Japan is considering spending around 5 trillion yen ($37 billion) over the next five years to develop “counterstrike capability” against enemy missiles.
One trillion yen ($7.33 billion) of the amount would go toward extending the range of the country’s indigenous Type-12 surface-to-ship guided missiles — from 125 miles (200 kilometers) to 750 miles (1,207 kilometers).
The missile will also be modified for launch from air and shipborne platforms, Kyodo News reported, citing sources.
Hypersonic Missile Development
Additionally, around 800 billion yen ($5.86 billion) would be spent developing “high-speed glide weapons” for remote island defense in southwestern Japan and hypersonic missiles.
The plan also calls for various drones, including underwater platforms, for counter-strike operations.
Japan is also considering the purchase of 500 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the US as a stopgap until the range extension of its Type-12 missile missile is complete.
Defense Budget Hike
The development emerged on the heels of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructing his defense minister to raise the defense budget by 56 percent to $318 billion over the next five years.
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has set a long-term goal of doubling defense spending to nearly two percent of the country’s gross domestic product, from the current level of one percent.