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Golden days for defence contractors: Japan's 5.59 trillion JPY (40.7bn USD) record defence budget for 2023 will include combat drones, research on hypersonic weapons and mass production of long-range missiles. The ministry aims to introduce unmanned vehicles that can be used directly in combat rather than just for surveillance and intelligence gathering. It sees the speedy acquisition and introduction of such drones as necessary to gain an edge in combat while minimising human casualties.
Japan seeks attack drones in record $40bn defense budget request
Hypersonic weapons research, long-range missiles on Tokyo's priority list
asia.nikkei.com
The ministry is also trying to enhance the capability of the missile intercept command system known as the Japan Aerospace Defense Ground Environment to efficiently operate the nation's two-stage missile defense, along with the acquisition of additional missiles, according to the sources. Hypersonic missiles come in two types: hypersonic cruise missiles (HCM) powered by engines; and hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV), which glide to their targets after being launched from rocket boosters. Russia and China are ahead of other countries in HGV technology, according to defense experts. Japan plans to introduce a missile defense system that can deal with HGVs to future Aegis ships, the sources said.