After the end of World War II, Japan, as a defeated country, was severely punished, and the military industrial complex was basically dismantled. However, with the outbreak of the Korean War, Japan's military-industrial complex was quickly revived, and by accepting orders from the American military, it provided a large number of arms to the American military participating in the Korean War, which allowed the Japanese military-industrial enterprises to be retained. Since then, the Japanese government has also maintained the survival and development of military enterprises through military orders.
The significance of the existence and development of Japan's military science and technology research and development
The existence and preservation of Japan's military industrial enterprises and their ability to conduct self-research and development of military products and technologies is of great significance to Japan's national security and its international status.
Japan is keen to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council
Guarantee Japan's military security. Without relying on foreign aid, Japan's own military R&D institutions and departments will be able to develop relevant weapons on a relatively large scale, and military enterprises will be able to carry out large-scale production of military equipment at full capacity. And this kind of ability and level is a must for a big country. If Japan wants to maintain its self-reliant state and rely on its strong national strength to retain a relatively complete military industrial system, including its R&D and manufacturing capabilities for military technology and equipment, it has become very important.
This will contribute to the unfavorable international environment for Japan. Against the backdrop of changes in the balance of power, competition between countries in the political, economic, and military fields of the world today is becoming more and more prominent. It is impossible for any Japanese cabinet or leader to give up the existence of Japan's powerful military-industrial enterprises, and will try to maintain Japan's strong military technology and military product research and development capabilities. There is no doubt that as far as Japan's national security standpoint is concerned, Japan's military science and technology research and development capability can only be strengthened, not weakened.
It will contribute to the improvement of Japan's international standing. The Abe administration had wanted to make up for its military shortcomings by unleashing its military potential and even building up a national defense force. However, due to the constraints of Japan's domestic and international political situation, the Abe administration is unable to achieve such reform goals in a short period of time, and can only move closer to the military policy of building a national defense force through policy lines such as liberalizing arms export controls and lifting the ban on the right of collective self-defense, but it is still difficult to achieve this in a short period of time. This policy of gradual proximity has helped to unleash Japan's military potential, thereby stimulating Japan's military R&D and production. On the other hand, Japan's strong military R&D and production capacity will help make up for Japan's shortcomings in the military field and put Japan in a more advantageous position in military exchanges with the United States, Britain, France, Germany, and other developed countries. In fact, it also means improving Japan's position in the international community.
The impact of Japan's military science and technology research and development
The war forces of various countries today and in the future are mainly manifested in the mastery of high-tech equipment and the possession of modern units with the ability to comprehensively use high-tech equipment. Therefore, the allocation of high-tech military equipment and the comprehensive use of high-tech military combat strength have become the fundamental factors for winning a decisive victory in future wars. This determines that the research and development of military science and technology has an increasingly important status and effect. The impact of Japan's military science and technology research and development is mainly manifested in the following aspects.
Soryu-class submarines
It will help Japan's Self-Defense Forces improve their comprehensive combat capabilities. Japan's research and development of military science and technology can complete the research and development of military technology and military equipment of the Ministry of Defense in accordance with the technical indicators and military technology and tactics requirements of the Japanese Ministry of Defense, raise the level of Japan's weapons and military equipment, and strengthen its comprehensive combat capability. The Japanese Ministry of Defense, through the Defense Equipment Agency, has put forward project initiation indicators and project requirements to military scientific research institutions and military enterprises, and the military scientific research institutions and Japanese military industrial enterprises that have received orders have basically been able to complete the initial design requirements with quality and quantity after the project has entered the stage of independent research and development, and some military product projects have even reached the international advanced level. For example, the Soryu-class submarines, which were mainly developed by the Technical Headquarters of the Ministry of Defense, the predecessor of the Defense Equipment Agency, have reached the world's advanced level of conventionally powered submarines in terms of comprehensive combat strength. The Type 90 and Type 10 tanks developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries were at the international leading level in the early stage of production.
Soryu-class submarines
Give full play to the international influence of Japan's military R&D and manufacturing. Because of Japan's outstanding military technology and manufacturing strength, the United States also imports parts and components made in Japan in the development of air defense missiles. For example, the high-performance sensor of the Patriot-2, which is located at the tip of the missile, is equipped with an infrared search system, can identify and track the target, has the function of capturing the attitude and position of the missile, and is an indispensable component for guiding the missile to accurately hit the target. Britain, France and Germany also favor Japan's military parts. Japan's Soryu-class submarines made a name for themselves in Australia's bidding, which made the international community aware of the advanced nature of its submarines' comprehensive performance. The NS110 steel used in the Canglong-class submarines has a yield strength of more than 1,000 megapascals and is capable of diving to depths of 500 meters. For every 100 meters increase in the depth of the submarine, the strike capability of anti-submarine weapons decreases by 22%. In addition, its quiet ability is also relatively strong, and it is an excellent submarine among diesel-electric submarines.
The high-performance sensor used in the Patriot-2 (PAC2) is made in Japan
It is conducive to the maintenance of the independence of the Japanese state. Japan is currently the world's third-largest economy. However, due to the international system established by the victorious powers after World War II and the transformation of Japan's state system by the United States, Japan was unable to fully possess the military power to match its economic strength. Although Japan's Self-Defense Forces are currently relatively strong in terms of unit combat strength, they cannot be compared with such large countries as the United States and Russia in terms of overall scale. Because Japan has a relatively independent and complete military R&D system and manufacturing capacity, it has played a strong supporting role in Japan's influence as an economic and political power. It will not only help the Japanese Self-Defense Forces maintain its leading position in the world for a long time in military equipment, but will also ensure the local production and research and development of the basic equipment and technology of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, and will be an indispensable supporting force for the struggle to become a world power. The research and development of military technology and equipment is also easy to form a pattern of mutual promotion and complementarity with civilian technology and equipment, which is conducive to supporting the development of Japan's civilian technology and facilities, and thus promoting the enrichment of Japan's strength as a great power, so that Japan does not have to rely on others in both the military and civilian fields, and is conducive to safeguarding the independence of the Japanese state and nation.
It is difficult for Japan's military R&D to form a complete system, and there are shortcomings. Although Japan has a solid foundation and strong capabilities in military science and technology research and development, it cannot be completely independent in the research and development and procurement of new and high technology and equipment. Since the end of World War II, Japan has not independently developed a new jet combat aircraft. In the 21st century, Japan attempted to overtake in a corner, the development of the 5th generation stealth fighter, by the Japanese Ministry of Defense Defense Equipment Agency Aviation Equipment Research Institute and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries jointly developed stealth fighter Xinshen, officially known as the Advanced Technology Verification Aircraft (ATD-X), code X-2, on April 22, 2016 test flight success. The Xinshen fighter adopts a number of high-end technologies such as 3D vector propulsion, optical flight control system, active electronic scanning array radar, electronic warfare equipment, and microwave weapons, which can effectively strike at the enemy. Gives it the "F3" combat capability, which is First Look, First Shoot, and First Kill. A total of 32 test flights were completed, the last of which was on October 31, 2017. However, due to the Japanese government's large purchase of American F-35 fighters, the development plan of Xinshen has been repeatedly postponed. This means that Japan's military industrial development is also immature and unsuccessful, which not only wastes a lot of money and time costs, but also damages the overall deployment plan of Japan's military equipment. Of course, this kind of research and development is not useless, and it can train talents for the research and development of relevant combat aircraft in Japan, and retain and continue the relevant advanced technology.
Trends in the research and development of military science and technology in Japan
Japan's military science and technology research and development not only follows the mainstream trend of the world, but also has its own characteristics. Since 2018, Japan's Defense Equipment Agency has set up a project to develop long-range cruise missiles, and in 2019, Japan has decided to modify the deck of a helicopter carrier to make it a real aircraft carrier that can carry fixed-wing aircraft. All these reflect the trend of Japan's military science and technology research and development to follow the world's mainstream, but at the same time, it is limited by Japan's domestic political system, showing the characteristics of its science and technology research and development.
Maintain key military technology and equipment research and development capabilities with Japanese characteristics. In terms of giving prominence to the key points of military research and development, Japan is likely to enter the military high-tech field with its own characteristics, and maintain and improve its own military technology and equipment research and development capabilities. Land battle tanks, naval vessels, and amphibious military aircraft are all likely to be the direction of military research and development in which Japan will continue to make great efforts to maintain its own research and development capabilities and further pursue advanced technology and equipment. For example, in addition to attaching importance to the development of successors to the Soryu-class submarines, Japan's maritime self-defense may continue to attach importance to the research and development of large surface ships, especially the Izumo-class helicopter carriers, which can carry F-35B vertical take-off and landing fighters, and may develop in the direction of helicopter carriers of larger tonnage in the future, so as to enhance its maritime combat capability. The research and development work may be carried out by the Defense Equipment Agency, Japan Marine United Corporation, or Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Marine Marine Corporation.
As far as the direction of the development of Japan's military industry is concerned, Japan will select areas with advanced technology and distinctive characteristics to focus on development, and maintain and give prominence to its key military technology and military products. The rest is in the form of procurement from the United States and other Western countries to make up for the shortcomings.
Emphasis is placed on the development and expansion of high-tech military science and technology. Japan will further strengthen its research and development work in the fields of electronics, electromagnetic technology, network technology, space military technology, unmanned vehicles, unmanned combat weapon platforms, and robotics. These areas are the commanding heights of future military contention, and at the same time, Japan also has its own strengths in these areas. In terms of civilian robotics, Japan is unique, controlling 90% of the robot technology patents, developing and producing and supplying 60% of the world's market. Once robotics and drone piloting technology are combined, the potential for the development of unmanned weapons will be very great and will also be in a leading position. In the field of space technology, Japan also has its own advantages, being able to achieve remote control in space and use Hayabusa2 to explore planets. In addition, Japan is also in a leading position in the field of electronic reconnaissance, electronic detection, plasma engines. If these technologies are modified for military detection and military strikes, their combat capabilities may be multiplied.
Japan still has many shortcomings in network technology, space technology, electromagnetic technology, and many other aspects. However, due to the alliance between Japan and the United States, some technologies in the United States have a low threshold for Japan, and they can be opened to Japan for patent license purchases, which provides reserves and support for Japan to improve the level of relevant technologies in the future.
Japanese Mind fighter
The strategy and idea of maintaining the full range of military R&D capabilities remains. Since Japan introduced the American F-15 assembly line in the 20th century and the American F-35 assembly line in the 21st century, we can find that Japan is still pursuing and maintaining its status as a great power, building a full range of military technology and military equipment systems, and through the introduction of the assembly line of the most advanced American fighters, Japanese R&D departments and military enterprises can understand the technical process and technical core of American fighters, so as to develop similar fighters for their own country to the greatest extent and make preparations for technical and personnel training.
Since 2011, Japan has basically decided to purchase F-35 fighters, and most of them are assembled and produced in their own country, which actually includes the use of assembly advantages to understand the technical equipment, process flow and key components of the American F-35 fighter, so as to provide technical support for Japan's own research and development of the Shinshin fighter. According to the Japanese news agency, on April 1, 2020, Japan's Defense Equipment Agency officially established a dedicated team to manage the design and contract affairs of the next-generation fighter jet, and began the development of a successor to the F-2 fighter led by Japan. The team is headed by an equipment development officer with the rank of air general (equivalent to a major general), and consists of about 30 aviation self-defense officers and technical officers.
Judging from the current strategic considerations of the Japanese Ministry of Defense, the development of a new generation of fighters should be led by Japan, so the Ministry of Defense rejected the proposal of the US company Lockheed Martin to be a "hybrid engine" based on the stealth fighters F-22 and F-35. Because these two fighters are ready-made fighters from the United States, the US company ostensibly says that it will cooperate with Japan in the development of fighters, but after all, there will be no major changes, and there are very few places where Japan can participate in the development, which is equivalent to the United States leading the development of Japan's new fighter planes. This is something that the Japanese Ministry of Defense is unwilling to accept. The model proposed by the Ministry of Defense is to cooperate with the United States and Britain to develop a new type of Xinshen fifth-generation stealth fighter led by Japan. This mode of cooperation in the development of a new type of stealth fighter not only avoids Japan's lack of technical strength in developing a new type of fighter alone, but also enables it to absorb the advanced technology related to the United States and Britain in the course of cooperation, and enables Japan to take the lead in completing the research and development plan of the fifth-generation new fighter. Although the current research and development plan has been put on hold, many experts believe that Japan's purchase of American F-35A/B fighters is only a stopgap measure, and does not mean that Japan has given up its own development of fifth-generation stealth fighters, as described in the media. Japan has not given up its strategic goal of making up for its shortcomings in military equipment research and development and becoming a world political power and a comprehensive power.
Disclaimer: This article is transferred from Military Digest, and the original authors are Zhou Yongsheng and Wang Shan. The content of the article is the original author's personal point of view, and this official account is compiled/reprinted only to share and convey different views, if you have any objections, please contact us!
Transferred from丨Military Digest
Author丨Zhou Yongsheng, Wang Shan
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