Japan poised to shake up world weapons sales

For the first time ever Japan is poised to sign a deal to sell military systems to another country. Japan and India are poised to sign a deal for 15 US-2 seaplanes. The aircraft are unarmed, but are military aircraft.

Last month Tokyo and Paris signed a deal for possible joint development of weapons systems. It's just not clear which ones are in the deal. Tokyo is also interested in selling technology from their Soryu class submarines to Australia, which has had problems with their own indigenous design. Turkey has also expressed interest in the engines for the Japanese Type 10 tanks.

This could represent a huge shakeup to the world arms market.

The fifth most expensive army in the world is one many people don’t even realize exists. Japan has a reputation for being a pacifist and even unarmed country because its post-World War II constitution technically forbids it from having a military.

The reputation is wrong. In addition to possessing its own powerful armed forces, Tokyo is finally becoming an arms exporter … seven decades after the constitution discouraged but did not outright ban weapons sales.

Instead of an official military, Japan has what it calls “self defense forces”—an army, navy and air force trained and equipped for defense.

medium.com...

reply to post by Zaphod58


China is not going to like that.

Especially if Japan starts supporting Taiwan for example, or another of the few countries that China has issues with at the moment.

Certainly and interesting development. To be very honest, I expect that the Japanese have been working on their Mech Army for the last decade +.

~Tenth

reply to post by tothetenthpower


The Japanese have some of the nicer tanks of anyone out there in the Type 10 tank. They also have moved away from the AIM-120 missile, which is the mainstay of the US missile inventory, and developed their own AAM-4, which uses an electronic radar array.

If you actually look into their military, into the smaller details of missiles and tanks, they are actually remarkably well equipped.

Japan has to come out of the closet if they are to defeat China in the coming disputes....China respects nothing but raw power and brute force.
Its no big secret that Japan has more bite than just bark....and they may yet prove a surprise to the techno militaries of the globe.....
After all they had the atom bomb too almost.....

reply to post by Zaphod58


That's not surprising that they would be well equipped.

A country who wasn't allowed to build a standing army would have funneled all the cash into R&D. At least that's what I would have done. Also why I think they have a mech army underground. Probably beneath Fukushima. lol

Have there been any grumblings from Japan's neighbors regarding this intent to sell?

~Tenth

reply to post by tothetenthpower


Nothing that I've heard yet. But so far there are no confirmed sales. I expect to hear something once the contracts are signed. Probably not for the US-2 deal, but if they sell tank engines to Turkey, or some of the more advanced stuff then the screaming will start.

reply to post by Zaphod58


They have always been a warrior nation. Without a couple of clear naval mistakes we might be speaking Japanese. They had us defeated at pearl harbor had they continued there was little we could have done. That and couple more mistakes and we were really lucky.

The younger generation has no stomach for it however. They are very smart and can make very good weapons. They have always made the best steel are not afraid to put their tech into weapons. Sales are one thing, fighting is another.

Don't look to see her fighting anytime soon unless really forced to. They really did change after being nuked and defeated. That is why you saw America flying over disputed area with China. Our guilt for nuking them, we now help protect them. This after we rebuilt their nation lol.

One thing is for sure, China won't be happy about it but they have their minds elsewhere right now lol...

The Bot

reply to post by dlbott


And don't forget to pray that they forget about the USA.

reply to post by tothetenthpower


Hmmm not only China but South Korea, since South Korea seems to have some rather cold view toward Japan