According to a document viewed by Reuters, Japan is preparing to launch a prototype unmanned surveillance aircraft in the next decade and 10 years after that an unmanned fighter jet. This comes along with a record increase in Japanese defense spending, a budget of 5.16 trillion yen (£39million), 2.3% higher than this year. Japan's increase of secuirty measures are related to the feras over developments in China (due to tensions in the East China Sea) and North Korea (due to upgrades in thier ballistic missile tehcnology), both of which, according to the Japanese authorities could pose a serious therat to thier county in the near future.
Japanese experts believe that the current security system is not sufficient. According to Takashi Kawakami, a security expert at Japan’s Takushoku University: ’the security environment surrounding Japan is severe’. Apart from plans for innovations the new budget will also cover a range of other security readjustments, such as the strengthening of the coast guard in the southern islands of Miyakojima and Amami Oshima, or doubling of the missile system’s range to more than 30 km.
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