Japan To Launch a Military Space Force In 2019

Taco Cowboy writes Japan is planning to launch a military space force by 2019. The Mainichi Shimbun is reporting that Japan plans to create a "space force" within its existing Self Defence Force, hoping to have it operational by 2019. Japan would provide the US military with information obtained by the force as part of the joint bid to strengthen ties in space, the so-called "fourth battlefield", Kyodo news agency said, citing unnamed sources. Note that this plan, which involves simply looking into space using old civilian astronomy equipment and radar, is just the beginning. The transforming space fighters and combat mechs will presumably come later.

Comments

But what of the children...

[hooiberg]

... required to operate those space mechs? Child Labour is frowned upon, these enlightened days.

Re:But what of the children...

[Anonymous Coward]

I think this is a reference to Evangelion, Gundam Wing or any of a number of other Japanese television shows involving mechs piloted by teenagers.

Strategic coverage

[Anonymous Coward]

Which of the hypothetical weapons is slated to protect us from Planet Bankruptcy?

non military space agreement??

[ganjadude]

I could have sworn that there was a non militarization of space treaty in place

Re:non military space agreement??

[ganjadude]

looks like i was correct - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

It exclusively limits the use of the Moon and other celestial bodies to peaceful purposes and expressly prohibits their use for testing weapons of any kind, conducting military maneuvers, or establishing military bases, installations, and fortifications (Art.IV). However, the Treaty does not prohibit the placement of conventional weapons in orbit. The treaty also states that the exploration of outer space shall be done to benefit all countries and shall be free for exploration and use by all the States. The treaty explicitly forbids any government from claiming a celestial resource such as the Moon or a planet, claiming that they are the common heritage of mankind.[3] Art. II of the Treaty states that "outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means". However, the State that launches a space object retains jurisdiction and control over that object.[4] The State is also liable for damages caused by their space object.[5]

Re:non military space agreement??

[Meneth]

Yes, the Outer Space Treaty. Japan has signed and ratified it. However, as Wikipedia says, "the Treaty does not prohibit the placement of conventional weapons in orbit."

Re:non military space agreement??

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

I could have sworn that there was a non militarization of space treaty in place

According to TFA, this 'military space force' is a somewhat hyperbolic description of orbital debris tracking(presumably for satellite protection, as such systems currently are). Depending on the local appetite for defense contracts and the diplomatic PR issues such a purely 'defensive' system will have a greater or lesser chance of becoming the target acquisition mechanism for some sort of anti-satellite system on the ground.

To the best of public knowledge, I don't think anyone has yet followed through on some grand design to put weapons on satellites; but you can put more or less whatever you want on the ground and satellites are not known for their durability...

Re:non military space agreement??

[TubeSteak]

Japan Announces a Military Shift to Thwart China
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/02/world/asia/japan-moves-to-permit-greater-use-of-its-military.html

Japan's prime minister announced a reinterpretation of the country's pacifist Constitution on Tuesday, freeing its military for the first time in over 60 years to play a more assertive role in the increasingly tense region.

The antiwar Constitution remains enough of a touchstone for many in Japan that the reinterpretation has spurred rare street protests, and even the self-immolation of a lone protester in Tokyo this week.

The Obama administration said Tuesday that it welcomed Japan's action, adding that it would aid the country's armed forces to "do more within the framework of our alliance."

This is all about China.
Even the source article brings up China.

Re:non military space agreement??

[rahvin112]

The problem is we always had a sort of informal treaty with the Russians that we wouldn't go after their space based assets and likewise they wouldn't either.

The problem is the Chinese have taken an aggressive approach to neutralizing US space assets in the event of conflict. The believe they could win a conflict with the US by eliminating the space advantage the US enjoys. In fact their strategy appears to believe that US battlefield superiority is tied almost exclusively to US space based assets. I think they will ultimately be surprised by how effective such a strategy would be and how much blowback they'd get from the world after they shoot down a bunch of GPS satellites.

Ultimately that's what this agreement with Japan is about, attempting to neutralize or degrade the ASAT (anti-satellite) capabilities of the Chinese. Japan is critically positioned to shoot down ASAT weapons fired from China.

Space Junk Chain Reaction

[Scottingham]

Yes, what a great idea! Lets blow shit up in space making *anything* in orbit impossible.

Who needs weather satellites, GPS, and communication equipment anyway?

Re:Awesome!

[Jason Levine]

Hopefully they hire better pilots. The last massive mechanical humanoid pilots didn't think to use their giant sword (with a 100% effectiveness rating against giant space monsters) until after they've tried other methods that had nearly 0% effectiveness.