Japan invests in hypersonic and stand-off missiles
Japan’s Self-Defense Force (SDF) is developing and buying new classes of missile aimed to counter the threats it perceives in its neighbourhood, including a belligerent North Korea’s ballistic missile programme and claims on Japanese islands by an assertive China.
Tokyo’s intentions were made clear in the recently published overview of the defence budget for FY2020. It stated: ‘The SDF will acquire stand-off firepower and other requisite capabilities to deal with ships and landing forces attempting to invade Japan, including remote islands, from the outside of their threat envelopes.’
It added: ‘In addition, in order to appropriately leverage advances in military
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