Defense ministry requests record 5.2 trillion yen budget

September 1, 2017

TOKYO- Japan's Defense Ministry has announced a budget request of 5,255.1 billion yen for fiscal 2018, a record high, as it aims to strengthen the country's missile interception capabilities amid increasing threats from North Korean missiles.

The request for the year from April next year represents an increase of 2.5 percent from the fiscal 2017 initial budget level, up for the sixth straight year, the ministry said Thursday.

The ministry intends to upgrade the country's land- and sea-based missile defense systems. The ministry also seeks funds for introducing the Global Hawk unmanned surveillance aircraft.

The ministry plans to spend 65.7 billion yen to acquire sea-based missile defense equipment to be mounted on Maritime Self-Defense Force Aegis destroyers, including the SM-3 Block 2A system being developed by Japan and the United States, to better prepare for missiles to be launched on lofted trajectories.

For land-based missile defense, the ministry seeks 20.5 billion yen to buy an upgraded version of Patriot Advanced Capability-3, or PAC-3, missile interceptors.

Without specifying the amount of necessary funds, the ministry requests the introduction of the Aegis Ashore land-based missile defense system. Some of the related expenses, including the design cost, will be fixed by year-end and reflected in the government's upcoming budget proposal.

The ministry's request also includes 19.6 billion yen to develop next-generation radar equipment mainly to enhance the ability to track stealth aircraft.

With China's increasing maritime activities in mind, the ministry seeks 96.4 billion yen to acquire two new destroyers and 71.5 billion yen for a new submarine. Jiji Press