News Japanese Cabinet Approves $47B Defense Budget

[Gary]

By: Dzirhan Mahadzir
December 29, 2021 1:47 PM

JS Kumano(FFM-2) left front view at Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Tamano Shipyard Nov. 19, 2020.
Japan’s Cabinet approved a record 5.4 trillion yen (U.S. $47 billion) for its defense budget for fiscal year 2022, marking a record high for eight consecutive years, amidst Japanese concern about its capabilities to meet the threats posed by China, North Korea and Russia.
The budget covers a wide field ranging from procurement, upgrades, capability development, research and development and an increase in Japan’s costs of hosting U.S troops in the country.
The budget, which will go into effect on April 1, 2022, still needs approval from the Japanese parliament, although that is likely to be a formality given Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Liberal Democratic Party and its conservative Komeito Party partner hold a majority in both houses.
Naval-related funding under the 2022 budget includes the construction of five surface ships and a submarine. This includes 110 billion yen ($957 million) allocated for the ninth and tenth ship of the Mogami-class frigates, 73.6 billion yen ( $641 million) for a sixth Taigei class submarine, 13.4 billion yen ($116.7 million) for a fifth Awaji-class minesweeper, 27.9 billion yen ($242.9 million) for an oceanographic research ship and 19.6 billion yen (U.S 170.7 million) for a fourth Hibiki class ocean surveillance ship.

Another 400 million yen ($3.4 million) has also been allocated for the design of a new offshore patrol vessel. Construction will not necessarily begin in 2022 as it is the Japanese practice to allocate funding much earlier than the scheduled construction period.
For example, in the case of the Mogami-class frigate, the hulls of the fifth and sixth ships were laid down in June this year while construction of the seventh and eighth ship is expected to start next year, in line with the overall plan of constructing two ships of this class per year.

The Japanese Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) has also been allocated $88.8 million for a single new design Logistic Support Vessel and a single new design Landing Craft.

An undated Kawasaki P-1 mairtime patrol aircraft.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) received funding to procure three P-1 Maritime Patrol aircraft for $675.6 million, one US-2 seaplane for $47.8 million and one MCH-101 Minesweeping/transport helicopter $53 million.

Another $49.6 million was allocated to improve the electronic warfare training capability of the three UP-3D Orion EW trainer aircraft. Unmanned systems funding for the JMSDF includes $40.9 million for the trial operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle, $5.2 million to conduct trials of carrier-based UAVs to assess their performance for the JMSDF $10.4 million for further development of the unmanned mine elimination capabilities of the Mogami-class frigate, including the acquisition of an unmanned surface vessel to operate together with the unmanned underwater vessel already in use.

The budget also allocated $53 million for F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter conversion work on the two Izumo class destroyer helicopter carriers with a portion of it meant for the cost of further U.S. participation in the trials of F-35 operations on the ships. Four F-35Bs have been funded under the 2022 budget with $444.1 million for the aircraft and $178.6 million in related expenses.


A Marine F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter from The “Bats” of Marine Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 242 takes off from JS Izumo on Oct. 3, 2021. JMSDF Photo

Japan has contracts for eight F-35Bs already with plans calling for an eventual total of 42 F-35Bs out of the 157 F-35s it plans to acquire. The aircraft will be operated by the Japan Air Self Defense Force.

The 2022 budget allocates $176 million for the acquisition of SM-6 missiles for the two Maya-class Aegis destroyers. It also allocates $50.5 million for modifications to the SPY-6 radars for future installation on ships following the cancellation of Japan’s Aegis ashore program and Japan’s intention to build additional Aegis ships to take on the ballistic missile defense role.

Under the 2022 budget, Japan plans to place a garrison on Ishigaki Island, which about 186 miles away from Taiwan with the garrison operating ground-based surface to air missiles and anti-ship missile systems. Japan Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said in August that Japan will deploy medium-range surface to air missile systems, ground based anti-ship missile systems and 500 to 600 troops on the island by the end of March 2023.

The 2022 budget includes a number of items related to the U.S.-Japan alliance including 6.8U.S 59.2 million for the expansion of the V-22 Osprey repair facility at JGSDF Kisarazu Air Field The facility also provides depot-level maintenance for the Marine Corps fleet of Japan-based V-22s. The budget also allocates $2.7 billion for the development of Mageshima Island into a base where the U.S can conduct Field Carrier Landing Practice. Another $1.8 billion has been allocated under the 2022 budget to pay for the costs of U.S forces in Japan.

Japanese Cabinet Approves $47B Defense Budget - USNI News

Japan’s Cabinet approved a record 5.4 trillion yen (U.S. $47 billion) for its defense budget for fiscal year 2022, marking a record high for eight consecutive years, amidst Japanese concern about its capabilities to meet the threats posed by China, North Korea and Russia. The budget covers a...

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[RogerRanger]

Its amazing to me how the Japanese basically have the second best military in the west with the 4-5 highest budget. Their armed forces are by far better than anyone in NATO apart from the US. And they are just starting to rearm now. Just shows what good governance and intelligent leadership can do.

Also not going in for massively expensive strategic programs which limit your conventional power. With the British build the SSBN's, the Typhoon, the carriers and the SSN's, as well as our own army air defences and vehicles it means we can't afford to get enough stuff. Whereas the Japanese make deals with the Americans where they end up building American stuff in Japan, so now the Japanese can actually build some of the best ships/aircraft/vehicles in the world for a fraction of the price of Britain or France.

The Japanese have achieved this while under American occupation, surrounded by the USSR, Korea and China. Its incredible really. I often don't give the Japanese ruling class credit compared to the Chinese or Russians, but they have build up independent capacity in a totally different way to China and Russia, in a cheaper way. As opposed to the British which tried to build independent capacity and totally failed to invest the money and resources into it. Its the difference between believing you won WW2 and understand you are now part of the American Empire and making the best of it that you can.

 

[Gary]

Its amazing to me how the Japanese basically have the second best military in the west with the 4-5 highest budget. Their armed forces are by far better than anyone in NATO apart from the US. And they are just starting to rearm now. Just shows what good governance and intelligent leadership can do.

Also not going in for massively expensive strategic programs which limit your conventional power. With the British build the SSBN's, the Typhoon, the carriers and the SSN's, as well as our own army air defences and vehicles it means we can't afford to get enough stuff. Whereas the Japanese make deals with the Americans where they end up building American stuff in Japan, so now the Japanese can actually build some of the best ships/aircraft/vehicles in the world for a fraction of the price of Britain or France.

The Japanese have achieved this while under American occupation, surrounded by the USSR, Korea and China. Its incredible really. I often don't give the Japanese ruling class credit compared to the Chinese or Russians, but they have build up independent capacity in a totally different way to China and Russia, in a cheaper way. As opposed to the British which tried to build independent capacity and totally failed to invest the money and resources into it. Its the difference between believing you won WW2 and understand you are now part of the American Empire and making the best of it that you can.

The JSDF are Asia's 2nd strongest 'military' (technically they no longer have any military, only self dense force) in particular the maritime branch, in particular the navy ( JMSDF), which are very formidable since they're Japan's only real defense since they left their imperial ambitions, hence why most of the budget here ended up for the JMSDF.

 

[RogerRanger]

The JSDF are Asia's 2nd strongest 'military' (technically they no longer have any military, only self dense force) in particular the maritime branch, in particular the navy ( JMSDF), which are very formidable since they're Japan's only real defense since they left their imperial ambitions, hence why most of the budget here ended up for the JMSDF.

Yes they have excellent marines as well. They have a good air force with loads of MPA aircraft and American fighters and air defence systems. The army is much less capable, that's one place where the French, British, Turkish would have an advantage within the west.

As you said the navy is very very good, large and professional with a big ship building capacity as well.