For the first time since World War II! The United States sells this type of cruise missile to Japan
On August 28th, the US Department of Defense announced that the US State Department had approved the sale of extended range joint defense zone space to ground cruise missiles and related equipment to Japan, with an estimated value of $104 million. The report states that this is the first time since World War II that the United States has sold long-range air to ground cruise missiles to Japan.
Having certain strategic deterrence capabilities
According to reports, this extended range joint defense space to ground cruise missile was developed by Lockheed Martin of the United States and is the latest generation of cruise missiles for the US military, with a range of approximately 1000 kilometers. The missile adopts stealth design, which can to some extent avoid missile defense systems.
Military observer Yin Zhuo introduced that the US made extended range joint defense zone outer space to ground cruise missile purchased by Japan has a certain degree of deterrence in performance.
Yin Zhuo:
This is a type of cruise missile that has been changed from tactical to strategic, capable of striking deep targets of the enemy, such as large and medium-sized cities, command centers, communication centers, air defense positions, etc. In addition, this type of missile has a certain penetration ability and can strike reinforced targets.
Although the number of missiles purchased by Japan this time is not large, only 50, this is the beginning, and the procurement volume may be even larger in the future.
The United States is fueling the situation
The report states that this is the first time since World War II that the United States has sold long-range air-to-ground cruise missiles to Japan. The US claims that this plan will enhance Japan's ability to respond to current and future threats, and will not alter the basic military balance in the region, nor will it have any adverse effects on US defense preparations.
Yin Zhuo said that the United States' statement is about to be overshadowed.
Yin Zhuo:
The United States has strategically relaxed its arms sales to Japan. For example, the United States supports Japan's modification of the "Three Principles of Arms Exports" to gradually transform it from a defeated country to a "normal country.".
The United States believes that its ability to target major Asian countries alone is insufficient, and it urgently needs the help of its allies, with Japan being the most powerful ally. Whether it is pursuing the "quadrilateral strategy" of the United States, Japan, India, and Australia, or piecing together the "Asian small NATO" of the United States, Japan, and South Korea, the United States cannot do without Japan's support.
Japan's "sausage cutting" style development of offensive capability
Data image: US made Tomahawk cruise missile
In February 2020, the Japanese Ministry of Defense confirmed its intention to purchase extended range joint defense zone space to ground cruise missiles from the United States as soon as possible. Last August, the Japanese Ministry of Defense decided to introduce American made Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of over 1000 kilometers.
While Japan is aggressively expanding its military, it is also continuously strengthening its independent research and development capabilities. According to reports, the Japanese government has recently decided to develop domestically produced air to air missiles and is preparing to equip them in the next generation of fighter jets jointly developed with the UK and Italy in the future.
In Yin Zhuo's view, Japan's series of actions are empirical evidence of its pursuit of developing offensive capabilities and accelerating the normalization of the country, and must be highly vigilant.
Yin Zhuo:
Japan is no longer satisfied with its status as an economic powerhouse and wants to become a political and military power.
A standard feature of a military power is its strategic offensive capability, and after World War II, the United States was very wary of Japan, as the weapons sold to Japan lacked strategic offensive capability. Now, the United States has broken through its restrictions and begun to strengthen Japan's strategic offensive capabilities. Therefore, Japan actively cooperates with the United States and becomes its "thug" in the Asia Pacific and Indo Pacific regions.
At the same time, Japan is also finding ways to enhance its national defense capabilities. For example, Japan obtained technologies such as engines, radar, fire control systems, and flight control systems from European countries through joint research and development of the sixth generation aircraft with Italy and the United Kingdom; Developing long-range attack aircraft to develop bombers, and so on.
