Menu

Japan Plans Additional Ammunition Depots Amid Missile Expansion

Soldiers of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force launch a Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile at Beecroft Weapons Range, New South Wales during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023. *** Local Caption *** Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 is being conducted across northern Australia from 22 July to 4 August. More than 30,000 military personnel from 13 nations will directly participate in Talisman Sabre 2023, primarily in Queensland but also in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales. Talisman Sabre is the largest Australia-US bilaterally planned, multilaterally conducted exercise and a key opportunity to work with likeminded partners from across the region and around the world. Fiji, France, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany are all participating in Talisman Sabre 2023 with the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand attending as observers. Occurring every two years, Talisman Sabre reflects the closeness of our alliance and strength of our enduring military relationship with the United States and also our commitment to working with likeminded partners in the region. Now in its tenth iteration, Talisman Sabre provides an opportunity to exercise our combined capabilities to conduct high-end, multi-domain warfare, to build and affirm our military-to-military ties and interoperability, and strengthen our strategic partnerships.Soldiers of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force launch a Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile at Beecroft Weapons Range, New South Wales during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023. *** Local Caption *** Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 is being conducted across northern Australia from 22 July to 4 August. More than 30,000 military personnel from 13 nations will directly participate in Talisman Sabre 2023, primarily in Queensland but also in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales. Talisman Sabre is the largest Australia-US bilaterally planned, multilaterally conducted exercise and a key opportunity to work with likeminded partners from across the region and around the world. Fiji, France, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany are all participating in Talisman Sabre 2023 with the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand attending as observers. Occurring every two years, Talisman Sabre reflects the closeness of our alliance and strength of our enduring military relationship with the United States and also our commitment to working with likeminded partners in the region. Now in its tenth iteration, Talisman Sabre provides an opportunity to exercise our combined capabilities to conduct high-end, multi-domain warfare, to build and affirm our military-to-military ties and interoperability, and strengthen our strategic partnerships.

Japan launches a Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile at Beecroft Weapons Range, New South Wales during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023. Photo: POIS Peter Thompson/Australian Department of Defence

The Japanese Ministry of Defense has requested $148 million in the fiscal 2024 budget for 130 ammunition depots.

They will be in addition to about 1,400 facilities already operational throughout the country, Stars and Stripes reported, citing a ministry spokesman.

“The National Defense Strategy and Defense Buildup Program calls for possession of necessary ammunition as early as possible since there is a need to secure and maintain sufficient war-fighting capabilities,” the outlet quoted the spokesperson as saying.

To Be Built Across Country

The storage depots will be built on military land, including at Camp Ebino in Miyazaki prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu and five depots at the Okinawa Training Area. 

In addition, the ministry is planning to acquire land for three depots at bases in Kagoshima and Kyushu and is surveying six facilities on the northern island of Hokkaido.

Tokyo’s Missile Arsenal Expansion

The type of ammunition to be stored at the facilities has yet to be specified.

The initiative comes as Tokyo is planning to enhance its counter-strike capability, including the acquisition of long-range missiles such as American Tomahawks.

Japan also announced its largest-ever budget this year — $53 billion — amid an expanding Chinese military capability and North Korean missile threats.

AddThis Website Tools
Tags ammunitionammunition depotcruise missilesJapanTomahawk missiles
Related Posts
  1. Following US and China, Japan Unifies Military Branches Under Single Command

    Japan has set up a joint operational command for its Self-Defense Forces, emulating a significant…

  2. Germany Approves $3.2B in New Ukraine Military Aid

    Germany on Friday approved $3.25 billion in new military aid for Ukraine, just days before…

  3. Japan Mulls Deploying Missile on Island With China, N.Korea Within Range

    Japan is reportedly considering the deployment of long-range missiles on its southwestern Kyushu island for…

  4. Turkish ‘Atmaca’ Anti-Ship Missile Completes First Underwater Firing Test

    The Turkish Navy has successfully completed the first underwater test-firing of an anti-ship cruise missile…

  5. Dutch Warship Test-Fires Tomahawk Cruise Missile for First Time

    A Royal Netherlands Navy frigate has test-launched a Tomahawk cruise missile for the first time…