missile

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Joint development of MD will trigger endless arms race by wasting tax money

The Japanese government at its Security Council meeting on December 15 agreed that Japan will take part in the U.S.-led joint development of the next generation missile defense system from 2006.

The U.S. estimates that the development of an advanced version of Standard Missile-3 to be deployed on destroyers equipped with Aegis combat systems will cost 2.5 billion dollars. Japan is expected to shoulder about 1.2 billion dollars of the cost, according to the Defense Agency. The cabinet is expected to approve this joint development plan on December 24.

The U.S.-led MD is a centerpiece of U.S. preemptive strike strategy, aimed at nullifying enemy ballistic missiles.

The next version of SM-3, following the original one that will be deployed from 2007, is expected to distinguish decoys from real warheads.

Japan's participation in the development of the missile defense system shows that Japan has been deeply involved in the weaponry-system development to implement the U.S. first strike plan.

The Defense Agency argues that Japan's participation in the next joint MD development is needed in order for Japan to flexibly respond to U.S. spiral developments as well as future threats to Japan. However, the spiral development will trigger an endless arms race by wasting tax money.

The cost needed for the introduction of the present MD system is expected to be 5.0 to 6.7 billion dollars. If the costs for the production and deployment are added, it will reach at least 8.3 billion dollars.
-Akahata, December 16, 2005