Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE
The Japanese Government has cleared a ¥25 trillion ($218 billion) defence spending programme for the next five financial years, which will include controversial tanker procurements and new aircraft developments.
At the end of December, the cabinet also cleared the ¥4.955 trillion defence budget for financial year 2001, representing a 0.4% year-on-year defence spending increase despite an overall 2.7% cut in the national budget, forced by Japan's fragile economy - the first national budget reduction in six years.
Included in the defence funds is ¥5.3 billion to start the development of a new maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) and the new C-X military transport aircraft. The budget reportedly also covers development of a new high-bypass engine for the MPA.
According to JDA director general Toshitsugu Saito, Japan has decided to pursue the indigenous development programmes because no aircraft are available which "served the [JDA's] need for capabilities and systems". Japanese political analysts fear that this may lead to friction with the incoming administration of US president-elect George Bush, who wants stronger security ties with Japan.
The five-year spending programme includes ¥90 billion for the purchase of four tankers, a long-standing plan which has stirred controversy as a possible departure from the country's constitutional commitment to self-defence only. The tanker plan's defenders say it is needed to extend patrols and speed up response times.
The plan also covers procurement of 47 Mitsubishi F-2 fighters, the first of which was deployed at Misawa Air Base late last year. The F-2 programme suffered delays due to structural cracking, and development has been extended by a year to 29 November 2002.
On average, Japan's defence spending will grow 0.7% per year during the coming five years, compared with a 0.9% rise between the financial years 1999 and 2000.
Source: Flight International