Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Data Figure: Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Japanese aircraft carrier to the number of helicopter
Data Figure: Japanese H2A rocket carrying satellite launched

trainee newspaper reporter Weidong Xu

Democratic Party of Japan won the election , the future of Japan-US relations and Japan’s defense policy, have become the focus of attention in Asia and the world. Democratic Party of Japan officials have repeatedly said that to bring the defense budget cut, and re-examine the defense cooperation with the United States, pursuant to the media that the new Japanese government will pay more attention to Asia, the military will not be too aggressive. But in fact, Japan has never slowed down its military build-up, with particular emphasis on enhancing anti-missile and offshore delivery capabilities.

create a domestic anti-missile network

According to “Lianhe Zaobao,” September 18 report, Japan’s defense ministry 16 in the United States, Japan, the first test production of “Patriot” missile interceptor successfully hit a simulated ballistic missile. Agence France-Presse reported that the Defense Ministry said that Air Self-Defense Forces after the target missile by the radar, the Japanese launched the first self-production in New Mexico “Patriot 3″ to intercept. 16 The test was in Japan since the second time since September last year successfully test-fired “Patriot” missiles to intercept, but this test is the licensed production in Japan by the U.S. missiles.

Earlier, Japan’s plan to build a missile defense network did not progress smoothly. The end of 2008, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Aegis destroyer in the island of Kauai, Hawaii, USA near the sea, the sea-based missile defense program, “Standard 3″ interceptor missile tests, but did not intercept the target. And the “Patriot” will successfully intercept dummy firm in Japan to create “land and sea in one” anti-missile network’s confidence, and provide experience for future tests.

Japan’s missile defense system to intercept measures are divided into two steps: first by the Maritime Self-Defense Force Aegis destroyers to launch the “Standard 3″ to intercept missiles outside the atmosphere; if the intercept fails, then by air from Guards fired from the ground, “Patriot” to intercept. Earlier in Tokyo Japan as the center circle with a “Patriot”, but North Korean missile launch in April, Japan’s defense ministry has decided to expand the scope of deployment in Northeast and other places. Allegedly, deployment of the “Patriot” missile project is scheduled for completion in early 2011.

“quasi carriers” formation has formed

addition to trying to build anti-missile system, strengthen its defense capability, the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force is also actively developing offshore investment delivery capability. They used “small run” approach, and gradually by the transport ships, amphibious ships to the aircraft carrier forward.

1998, the Japanese “Osumi” was the official service large transport ship. Ship load displacement of 130 tons. Hull design from the point of view, “Osumi” class aircraft carrier has been upgraded to the necessary conditions required.

“Washington Times” reported on September 17 that only 1998 to 2003, the Japan Self-Defense Forces to create a three 14,700 tons of “Osumi” class amphibious landing ship. However, Japan tried to evade the “carrier” or even “amphibious ship,” saying the very beginning, “Osumi” class called “transport ship.” However, with Japan’s so-called “transport ship” tonnage growing, the “quasi-carrier battle group” has begun to take shape.

Japan’s defense ministry announced on August 31 once again, including the construction of a carrier-class escort, including the budget, and said that the giant 20,000-ton ships to be built the future of a total of four. “Washington Times” that the helicopter carrier could carry AV-8 “Harrier” type of carrier-based aircraft or US-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Japan’s Jiji news agency and the “Daily News” just put this giant battleship called the “helicopter carrier.” The report said the new ship has a greater transport capacity, can transport GSDF 3.5 tons truck 50, 4000 staff, and other ships at sea refueling.

occupy space “commanding heights”

in the aerospace sector, Japan’s strength can not be underestimated. September 18 morning, the Japanese use an H2B launch vehicle will be Japan’s first space cargo ship aircraft “HTV” into space. “HTV” to reach the International Space Station in the vicinity of about 10 meters, the astronauts inside the space station robotic arm successfully completed the docking operation. The “HTV” in the state remain sealed and automatically fly to the space station docking techniques proven successful, this research and development for the Japanese in the future to lay the foundation for manned spacecraft, has also confirmed that Japan’s H2 series of carrier rockets have reached the international advanced level.

According to the British “Jane’s Missiles and Rockets”, the Japanese from the 1950s started to develop modern rocket. Japan NASDA developed the H2 rocket booster diameter of 1.8 meters and 59 tons loaded HTPB composite propellant, the sea level thrust of 158 tons. If the engine into the shell of carbon fiber composite materials to reduce the structural mass, then only for a single-stage solid rocket booster, you can make 2-ton warhead to reach 55 km range.

In addition, Japan’s M-3S2 and M5 three-stage rocket with the United States, the Soviet long-range missiles, intercontinental very basic performance. If the M-3S2 rocket boosters, the core level of the third stage and satellite to remove and replace warheads, it becomes a weight about 47 tons, 24 meters in two long-range missile attack from a range covering throughout Japan to the Straits of Malacca in Southeast Asia.

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Japan-US alliance will not easily disband

“Washington Times,” 9 published 17 defense experts, former Pentagon adviser Michael Peel Crossbow in the article, the paper said, “China and other Asian countries have begun to evaluate the Democratic Party of Japan on the changes in defense policy.” Crossbow in Pierre that China hopes Japanese government to change or reduce the construction of defense against China, Japan and the United particular attention to defense issues.

U.S. Pacific Commander Keating on September 15, said Democratic Party of Japan coming to power does not mean that military ties US-Japan alliance will be a big change for this problem I have with his Japanese defense officials the communication and reached consensus. Keating said: “I am confident that the new government of Japan and the United States will discuss some specific aspects of the military alliance, but in general there will be no major changes.”