Japan Government Interested in Developing Submarine with Long Range Cruise Missile Capability
This would definitely add to Japan’s ability to launch offensive strikes if developed. However, this is something that is going to take many years to develop and build:
Moves are being made to build a submarine to examine the technical issues faced in deploying ones capable of firing long-range missiles, Japanese government sources have said.
The development plan will be included in the National Defense Program Guidelines to be revised by the year-end.
If the development progresses for actual deployment, Tomahawk cruise missiles that the government has approached the U.S. government about purchasing will be an option for the vessel.
Stars & Stripes
You can read more at the link.
That’s not a photo of the prototype sub, right?
Japan doesn’t have a very good record of building its own weapons systems. Nothing but failures and over costs. But they can dream. Obviously, Japan is disturbed by the rise of Korean military production and exports, and finally realized how far back they’d fallen behind Korea which they thought was too genetically inferior to come up with Class A weapons. Now they’re furiously trying to catch up, by bankrupting themselves.