Should Japan Have Tomahawk Missiles to Attack North Korea?

Japan Studies to Have Offensive Military Bases Amid Rising Fear of North Korea

 

2017/8/5

the Editor

Nikkei Shimbun reported on Saturday that the Ministry of Defense would start its study on whether Japan should possess strike capability to such enemy targets as ballistic missile facilities.  As the national defense guideline would be revised in around the end of the next year, the ministry would study introduction of the capability as deterrent to the North Korea.

Nikkei Shimbun

Japan has no capability and equipment to attack any other country as it has boasted ‘exclusively defensive policy,’ in which Japan could employ its defense forces only when it is attacked while limiting its forces for exclusive use of its defence.’

The government and the majority party officials are calling for introduction of Tomahawk cruise missile from USA by means of foreign military sales.

Japan is concerned with rapid development of nuclear and ballistic missile technologies of North Korea, including ICBMs and new type of ballistic missile converted from SLBMs.

In March, the national security study group within LDP, the majority party, advocatedadovocated to possessposess offensive military capability to enemy bases. The report was mainly compiled by Itsunori Onodera who has just inaugurated as the new Minister of Defense this week.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe instructed his newly appointed defense minister, Itsunori Onodera, to commence works to revise the national defense guideline. The ministry of defense would hope to include its intention to acquire new capabilities to attack enemy military bases.

Japan's New Anti-Ship Supersonic Missile

JAPAN Starts Full-Production of New Supersonic Air-to-Ship Missile Soon

A mock-up of XASM-3

JULY17, 2017

From various sources

The Editor

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The government of Japan has decided to introduce XASM-3, newly developed supersonic air-to-ship missiles to F-2 fighters of Japanese air force from the next fiscal year starting April 2018.

With appropriation of hundreds of million yen budget for procurement, Tokyo hopes the missile moves into series production stage. The new missile is first supersonic flying type to be produced indigenously and hard to be detected. Once equipped to F-2 fighters, it will deter the Chinese navy which is asserting more vocal in the East China Sea and elsewhere.

The new missile to be designated ASM-3 will fly Mach 3 and faster than subsonic missiles of type 80 (ASM-1) and type 93 (ASM-2) that are already introduced in the inventory.

With reduced time to reach a target, while flying so low to avoid radar detection, it would be harder for enemy ship to intercept this missile.

ASM-3 employs Integral Rocket Ramjet (IRR), a combination of solid fuel and ram jet engine for higher flying speed of Mach 3+. Its dual seeker using active radar homing and passive radar homing enhances counter ECM functions. Stand-off firing can make F-2 safer to survive.

Specifications

• Length：5.52m (18.1 ft.)
• Width: 1.19m z(3.9 ft.)
• Diameter: 0.35m (1.15 ft.)
• Max sped：Mach 3 +
• Rnage：80nm+
• Weight：900kg (1,984 lb.)
• Thrust：Integral Rocket-Ramjet
• Guidance method：Inertia/GPS (intermediate phase) + Active/Passive (terminal phase)

XASM-3 is uner devlopment by Mitsubishi Heavy Industiries.

NGO: New Exhibition Center to be built next to Runway

With New International Exhibition Halls on Airport Island, Aichi Hopes to Get Windfall Profit from 2020 Olympics

 

Prefecture of Aichi at central part of Japan including cities of Nagoya and Toyota, has agreed with both Nagoya Customs and Central Japan Airport to make the prefectural international exhibition arena at Centrair Nagoya international airport, scheduled to open in autumn 2019, the nation’s first permanent ‘bonded exhibition halls,’ meaning tax-free service for any exhibitors of the world.  Under the current tax and customs policy of Japan, even a temporary exhibition is regarded as import of goods and subject to 3-6% of customs except for completed automobiles and aircraft that are duty free but all of them are subject to 8%-consumption tax that can be refunded when they are unsold in Japan and taken back to home countries.

‘Bonded exhibition hall’ will offer no custom duty nor consumption tax status of all exhibitors to the arena, as incentive for them.

The new exhibition halls  to be built on the airport island will be as wide as 60,000 sq. meters (646,000 sq. feet) in all, consisting of 6 exhibition halls.

Aichi prefecture has announced its plan to construct the exhibition arena to be completed in 2019, a year before 2020 Tokyo summer olympic games when Tokyo’s existing exhibition centers will be used for the olympic games. Then, it is expected to call those events into Aichi and generating JPY150 billion (USD 1.3 billion) benefit to the local economy.

Buildings of the exhibition arena will be as simple as possible for shorter construction period and cost for more competitiveness to invite more events.

The airport island was all reclaimed off the coast and the Centrair airport is the biggest tenant of the island owned by the Aichi Prefecture. There is still a room for expansion on the island even after the proposed exhibition arena is completed.

Exhibitors can land of the airport and stay at one of the hotels on the island while attending international exhibitions.

Centrair, of Central Japan International Airport, is the nation’s gateway to the central part of the country and Boeing flies four flights to collect components of 787 including wings and fuselage for Washington state.

Frustrated ANA will get extra 737-800s as Filler of Delayed MRJs

2017/4/7 the editor

NIKKEI　reports ANA Holdings has decided to acquire Boeing 737-800s in place of MRJ, a Mitsubishi regional jet, that is being delayed in delivery due to prolonged developmment. Those Boing jets will start oprations in local cities lines from fiscal 2018.   ANA was supposed to be the launch customer of MRJ for the hope of its fuel economy but the largest Japanese airliner is facing with its revision of investment plans.

MRJ was originally scheduled to be delivered to ANA as soon as late 2013 but it is still in redesigning state.

ANA will introduce four Boeing 737-800 with 160 seat configuration by leasing. Those new 737s will replace 737-500 with 120 seats currently in operation based on Chubu international airport and other regional airports.

ANA Holdings has already introduced the same 737-800 with 30 over units in operation. But as MRJ has fewer seats and those 737-800s will add risks of more empty seats and lowered investment returns. ANA will work harder to allure more foreign tourists to those local lines.

ANA Holdings may ask financial compensation to Mitsubishi Aircraft, the manufacturer of MRJ, adding another problem to Mitsubishi.

Japan's C-2 Formally Deployed by JASDF Now

Development of Ｃ-2 Transport is Completed and Deployment Started

March 30, 2017

Edited from various sources

Ministry of Defense

Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) started the deployment of new and indigenous C-2 military transport on March 30.  The first three aircraft started the deployment and JASDF will deploy a total of 10 C-2s by 2020 at Miho Base, Tottori, facing the Sea of Japan and closer to the Korean peninsula.

Three aircraft will start operational test until September 2018, while they will be put into real operations partially to replace aging C-1 transports.

Compared with C-1, C-2 is bigger by 1.5 times in size and range and will prove its capability for defense of Japan’s far reaching islands as well as international peace keeping operations.

C-2 is produced by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and share components with P-1 maritime patrol jet already in service by Japanese navy.

---Specification of C-2

Length: 44 meters

Width: 44 m

Power plant: CF6-80C2K1F 22,680kg（50,000lb） × 2

Cargo space : L15.7×W4×H4m

Empty weight : 60.8t

Cargo capacity : 32t（2.5G）、36t（2.25G）

Maximum takeoff weight: 141t

Max speed: Mach 0.82（917 km/h）

Cruise speed: Mach 0.8]（890 km/h

Range: 9,800km/0t、7,600km/20t、5,700km/30t、4,500km/36t[

Ceiling limit: 40,000 ft （12,200 m）

Minimum take-off length: 500 m

Radar Satellite #5 Launched

Japan Succeeded in Launching Radar Satellite #5

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and  the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched H-IIA rocket #33 from Tanegashima Space Center, southern part of Japan, at 10:20:00 Japan Standard Time, March 17. The launcher carried Information gathering satellite using radar #5 unit.

They found the successful separation of the satellite later. The satellite later was confirmed in orbit as planned.

This time’s successful launching of H-IIA marked the 27th consecutively and its functionality rate has reached to 97%,

The radar satellite #5 would take place of the satellite #3 which was launched in 2012 and reaching to the end of its designed life.

Except for the newly launched satellite, Japan operates six-satellites, three optical and three radar satellites respectively for information gathering.

As North Korea is showing its assertiveness in launching ballistic missiles and claims to target U.S. military installations in Japanese homeland, information gathering is getting more critical for the security reason.

The fifth radar satellite is reportedly carrying more advanced radar resolution of  50cm, instead of 1 meter by previous birds.

Breaking News: First Defense Comm Satellite Launched Successfully

2017/1/24 18:00

Kyodo

Japan has launched H2A carrying the Defense Ministry’s own communication satellite successfully today.  On 17:18 JST, the satellite was separated from the rocket.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and JAXA launched Kirameki-2 from Tanegashima Space Center, southern part of Japan.

Defense Ministry is currently using commercial communication satellites to relay internal communication among its forces.  With the new satellite for exclusive use for the military forces, it is expected to enhance communication efficiency in the event of natural calamities as well as with foreign counterparts.

Japan’s first defense satellites will use X-band for uninterrupted communication.  Another bird, Kirameki -1 was damaged during transportation and it is under repairment and will be launched in 2018.

JAL to Fly Doggy Charter Flight in January

Japan Airlines to Fly Cabin Dog-Allowing Charter Flight in Domestic Route

December 9,2016,Tokyo

Japanese wesite Response reported that Japan Airlines  to  offer special charter flight to allow dog keepers to bring their pets to flight cabin in collaboration with Aeon Pet, a nationwide chain of  pet speciality shops.

Called ‘JET Kagoshima with Your Dog,’ this charter flight is a part of three-day package tour from Tokyo to Kagoshima, a southern city in Kyushu.  

The tourists of this package tour can take their dogs from their home until they return home including flight time in cabin of the charter flight.

Aeon Pet will dispatch its own veterinarian doctor to this package tour for entire journey as its support to lucky customers.

The tour will start on January 27, 2017 until 29th using Boeing 737-800 with 165 seat configuration and the flight number will be JAL111 for both legs. One-one-one sounds barking of a dog for Japanese people.

　　

JAL Answers Customer Inquiry by IBM Watson

Japan Airlines Offers Advice to Baby-accompanying Passengers by ‘Watson’

December 7，2016　

http://response.jp/article/2016/12/05/286484.html

Japanese website Response reported  Japan Airlines (JAL), in collaboration with IBM Japan, will start JAL virtual assistance service ‘Manaka-chan’ exclusively to tour-planning customers to Hawaii with bringing their babies.

‘Manaka-chan’ can answer to inquiries such as what services are available to babies at airports, other amenities inside JAL cabin or where to get baby food in Hawaii.  JAL had offered the same kind of inquiry-answering services through its call center or website.  But this new service can be available around the clock via internet using PCs and smart phone. The service is available for the period of 5 December 2016 to 10 January 2017.

‘Manaka-chan’ is an application of IBM Watson artificial intelligence that learns vast amount of information to get optimum answers.  Using the past data of the call center as well as JAL’s own backup records, JAL and IBM Japan gathered  possible questions from their 10,000 employees to promote the AI’s learning.  Further, chatting with live customers would enhance its accuracy to answer.

JAL plans to use IBM Watson in other interfaces with its customers to get higher customer satisfaction.

New Airport Radar to Detect Smaller Debris Under Development

Japan to Develop New Airport Radar to Detect

Runway Debris x10 Greater Effectively

From SankeiBiz

2 August 2016

New Debris Detecting Radar for Demonstration at Tokyo Narita Airport

PHOTO Sunkei Business Eye

Debris on a runway may lead to a fatal accident of aircraft. The government of Japan with private sector led by Hitachi, Ltd., is developing a new advanced radar system to detect even a bolt of just 3cm. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) is requesting JPY100-200 million in the  FY2017 budget  for further technological polishing-up.

The new radar system employs 90 GHz band to detect smaller objects explicitly by installing the units at both side of a runway with interval of 500 meters; each unit is networked by optical fiber cable for faster and comprehensive controlling.

Israel and U.K. are also developing debris-detecting radar system but the Japanese system can detect as early as 10 seconds, that is 10 times faster. While the new radar from Japan can detect smallest piece of 3 cm, showing 10 times greater sensitivity, the officials say.

MIC started its study since 2012 and now it reached a practical level in the first stage of development and installed prototype units at Narita Airport to see how effectively it works under different weathers such as rain or snow.

Previous demonstration showed its shortage of effectiveness at an airport like Haneda of Tokyo where several runways are built in a complex manner. The next stage of study will focus on how to enhance its accuracy at such complicated airports.

According to MIC, debris on runways are causing 5 to 10 minutes delay of aircraft or temporary closure of runways at airports in the world, resulting direct cost of JPY120 billion for malfunction and repair of aircraft as well as indirect cost of JPY1.2 trillion including delay or divert of aircraft.

Overlooked debris on runway may lead to a big disaster and this calls for a system to detect even smaller debris on the spot.

MIC and participating private sector plan to established a full fledged system after demonstration at Narita and further research work and will sell the high-performance system to airports around the world.

Kawasaki Heavy Delivers First Production C-2 Military Transport

Compiled from various domestic reporting

1 July 2016

The editor

Jiji Press

Kawasaki Heavy Industries announced on June 30 that the company delivered the first kind of production unit of C-2 medium military transport to Japanese Air Force.

The new transport is  a successor of C-1, the first indigenous military jet transport by the same company in service since 1973, but can carry 30 tons  almost four times as heavy than C-1 which have been criticized of too small cargo capacity.

PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA/Aviation Wire

With length of 43.9 meters, wingspan of 44.4 meters, C-2’s maximum takeoff weight is 141 tons.

With payload of 12 tons, it can fly as long as 6,500 km and reach Hawaii from Japan. C-2 also has air refueling receiver in flying boom system.

C-2 is powered by two GE CF6-80C2 engines which is also used by commercial Boeing 767 and defense purpose-built E-767 for the Japanese Air Force.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries was awarded development contract of experimental XC-2 in 2002. The  company also was awaraded to develop P-1, four-engined maritime patrol aircraft to replace P-3C for the Japanese navy and its first example of prodcution spec fliew first timei in September 2012.

The Defense Ministry will procure more than ten C-2s with total budget of JPY 264.3 billion with unit price of JPY 22.9billion but the series production unit will be priced JPY 18.8 billion.

But the demand of the Japanese military is quite limited and Kawasaki looks forward to exporting the aircraft.

PHOTO: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA/Aviation Wire

Breaking News: Korean Air Engine Fire on Haneda Runway INCIDENT

FIRE ON KOREAN AIR BOEING 777’S LEFT ENGINE ABORTED TAKEOFF AT HANEDA TOKYO

From various sources,

May 27, TOKYO

KE2708’s left engine shows the sign of fire and burn. May 27, 2016 at Haneda, Tokyo. PHOTO  N. Takuchi, Mainichi Shimbun.

At around 12:30 pm JST today, Korean Air KE2708 bound for Gimpo International Airport, South Korea, was about to take off at Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport with 319 passengers and crew. The Boeing 777-300 broke fire from its portside engine.

1. The aircraft made an emergency stop on the runway.
2. All of passengers and crew were able to evacuate by shooters but a total of 19 passengers had minor injury in their evacuation.
3. Japan’s Transport Safety Board made a preliminary investigation and found that the Korean aircraft’s left engine caught fire after running around 1,000 meters from a full stop. The investigators found the engine was severely damaged and internal parts got out by breaking through the casing to many parts of the runway. Experts thought some cause made a fuel leakage and got fire later.
4. According to sources at the Ministry of Land and Transportation and Korean Air, Haneda tower informed the aircraft that ‘Found fire at the left engine’ and the crew aborted takeoff. The crew confirmed anomaly at cockpit instruments.  The aircraft flew to Tokyo earlier on that day and there was no error found in the previous flight as well as pre-departure check up.
5. The aircraft has been flying since 1999 and the burned engine was exchanged a year and half ago.
6. Tokyo Metropolitan Police found no suspicious articles and found no clue to terrorism. When this Korean Air got this incident, US President Barak Obama was in the western part of Japan by attending G7 Summit in Mie Prefecture.
7. At Haneda, the runway was closed for about six hours while the other three runways stopped operations for about two hours.  According to Japan Airlines and ANA, the two major Japanese carriers, a total of 406 flights were cancelled affecting over 70,000 people by the Korean Air incident.