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stated, "unlike the outdated modified Hawk, the new SAM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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