Sep 01 (Japan Times) - The Defense Ministry on Thursday requested a record-high budget of ¥5.26 trillion for fiscal 2018, underscoring heightened concern over what Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the "unprecedented" and "grave" security threat posed by North Korea's military provocations.
This request, if approved by the government, would mark the sixth consecutive year of rise in the annual defense budget, which topped ¥5 trillion in fiscal 2017 for the second straight year.
The envisioned budget includes what the ministry calls "new assets" to defend against a ballistic missile attack by North Korea, including the land-based anti-missile system known as Aegis Ashore. The ministry didn't specify the sum needed for the system.
Additionally, ¥47.2 billion is earmarked to acquire an interceptor missile known as SM-3 Block IIA, which the ministry claims will help broaden Japan's defense coverage as well as improve its ability to shoot down a ballistic missile thrust high into space on a steep "lofted" trajectory.
Some ¥20.5 billion is also requested for an upgraded version of the current Patriot Advanced Capability-3 anti-missile system deployed nationwide.
The new variant, called PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE), features an improved range and altitude and is capable of shooting down not only ballistic missiles but also cruise missiles and airplanes, according to the ministry.
About ¥10.7 billion is set aside to enhance an existing anti-missile radar network called the Japan Aerospace Defense Ground Environment.
The planned upgrades, the ministry says, are designed to improve Japan's response capability to unexpected and simultaneous missile attacks, not to mention ones on a lofted trajectory.
Source: ANNnewsCH
