17 February 2021
Author: Yuki Tatsumi, Stimson Center
Japan’s 2021 defence budget is set to be its largest ever, continuing a near decade-long trend set in motion by former prime minister Shinzo Abe. Under Abe’s watch, Japan has increased its defence budget every year since 2005. The uptick in spending has continued since Abe left office in September 2020 last December, the Ministry of Defense released its revised budget request for the 2021 fiscal year totalling approximately 5.3 trillion yen (US$50.2 billion).
This upward trend has at times been sensationalised as a return to militarism, with critics pointing to new capabilities introduced during Abe’s tenure. Recent examples include the indigenous development of long-range surface-to-air missiles and other ‘standoff capabilities’ to replace the cancelled Aegis Ashore missile defence program. The Aegis system will be replaced with destroyers and long-range cruise missiles based on the surface-to-air missiles already
Raytheon to produce 90 Block V Tactical Tomahawk All Up Round Vertical Launch System missiles for US Navy Raytheon to produce 90 Block V Tactical Tomahawk All Up Round Vertical Launch System missiles for US Navy Saturday, 19 December 2020 16:20
According to a contract released by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) on December 18, 2020, Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $145,101,510 modification (P00003) to previous contract N00019-20-C-0030. This modification exercises an option for the production and delivery of 90 full rate production Lot 17 Block V Tactical Tomahawk (TACTOM) All Up Round (AUR) Vertical Launch System missiles, including related hardware and services for the U.S. Navy.