The Japanese Ministry of Defense is expected to request a record-breaking defense budget of $52 billion for fiscal year 2017, a Japanese government official reportedly told Reuters.
Next year’s national defense budget is set to increase by 2.3 percent over Japan’s already-high military spending. If the request goes through as planned, this will be the fifth consecutive time Japan has raised its defense budget. In 2013, Japan increased its defense budget for the first time in 11 years, pushing it up to around $50 billion.
The new budget will cover upgrades to Japan’s Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC)-3 missile defense system, which will extend its range to around 20 miles, the production of the Block IIA version of the Standard Missile-3 system, the strengthening of coast guard units tasked with patrolling Miyako Island and Amami Oshima, and the acquisition of F-35 stealth fighters. – READ MORE
