JDA Requests 20 Billion Yen for Development of Intermediate Range SAM -- FY96 Budget Proposal
Tokyo NIKKAN KOGYO SHIMBUN
16 Aug 95 p
7
[FBIS Translated Text] The Defense Agency of Japan (JDA) has firmed up official plans to strengthen air defense fire power by beginning development of an advanced intermediate range surface-to-air missile (SAM) in FY96. They intend to request technology and development appropriations of approximately 20 billion yen in the FY96 budgetary request. R&D on the advanced intermediate range SAM has been under way with Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) as the prime contractor using domestic high technology exclusively since FY89. R&D objectives include a smaller number of personnel required for operation, higher precision, improvement in both the guidance system and effective range. Deployment of the new SAM is a component of the review of the "National Defense Program Outline" now under progress that has raised high expectations. It is hoped to help compensate for the reduction of personnel authorized to the Ground Self Defense Force (GSDF). This new SAM development plan joins the plans for mass production of the advanced "FS-X" fighter support aircraft as highlights of the New Mid-Term Defense Buildup Program that is to begin in FY96.
The Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) of the JDA has been working on development of an advanced intermediate range SAM for 7 years as successor to the "Modified Hawk" SAM currently owned by the GSDF. MELCO and Toshiba have been producing the modified Hawk under license from Raytheon in the United States. MELCO, Toshiba, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) so far have spent approximately 17 billion yen on development of the new SAM, and research necessary for technical demonstration already has been completed.
MELCO officials, commenting on performance, have stated, "unlike the outdated modified Hawk, the new SAM requires almost no man power to operate and little time for deployment," and "is superior in survivability and has an expanded range." By modifying the guidance system, multiple targets can be aimed at simultaneously. Being blessed with such a multiplier effect as improved destructive power and precision targeting, the new SAM should become a key component of air defense fire power strength while meeting requirements for theater missile defense (TMD) which intercepts ballistic missiles.
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