Image source: topwar.ru
On December 16, 2022, Japan immediately approved three important documents related to strengthening the country's defense capability, including a new national security strategy. According to the adopted documents, it is planned to increase the number of ships equipped with Aegis missile defense systems by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces from the current eight to ten ships. It is also planned to deploy 2 ships that will specialize specifically in missile defense.
Consequently, by the end of the 2020s, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces should include 12 ships equipped with the Aegis Weapon System (AWS). One of the main reasons for the increased attention of the Japanese leadership to the combat capability of the fleet and the number of modern warships is the desire to ensure the security of the country against the background of China's increasing military activity.
Now China, the DPRK and Russia are considered by Japan as the most important potential adversaries in the Asia-Pacific region. But the focus is certainly on China.
In addition to actually equipping ships with missile defense systems, the Japanese leadership decided to purchase 500 Tomahawk cruise missiles, which will be installed on ships with Aegis systems. The country's defense budget has already allocated $1.5 billion for this purpose. It is planned to deploy the missiles in fiscal year 2026.
In addition, new SSM Type 12 missiles in an updated modification will be purchased for the ships of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces. Initially, such missiles were produced for the ground forces, but in the upgraded version they can be used from ships against a variety of objects.
Also, the ships of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces should receive SM-6 ship-to-air missiles, an allocation of $ 100 million is provided for this purpose. The Japanese Defense Ministry previously described the SM-6 as a missile designed primarily to combat cruise missiles, but in the latest budget request it is positioned as a means of countering hypersonic missiles.
An increase in the number of missile defense systems and missiles on Japanese ships is seen as an effective way to deter China and the DPRK in the event of conflict situations in the Sea of Japan or off the island of Taiwan.
