Towards the end of the year, Japan is at the forefront of science and technology to defend itself from North Korea and other potential threats. In a move that has attracted global attention, the Equipment Agency of the Japanese Ministry of Defense recently announced a "world's first" test launch of an electromagnetic cannon, which exploded like a firework at sea. This is not an ordinary experiment, but a bold attempt to inject electromagnetic power into the world.
In this test firing, an electromagnetic cannon weighing 8 tons stood majestically, like a guardian of the future. Its barrel is 6 meters long and capable of firing a 40 mm steel projectile weighing 320 grams at an astonishing muzzle velocity of 2,297 meters per second. The mystery of this electromagnetic cannon lies not only in its destructive power, but also in its revolutionary technical principle. Different from the traditional explosives and propellants, the electromagnetic cannon is propelled by electromagnetic force, like a high-tech battle in a science fiction movie, which is eye-catching.
The test launch was not a lone-sided operation, but a "world's first" sea test jointly participated by the Technology Acquisition and Logistics Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Defense and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The success of this experiment marked a key step in the Japanese electromagnetic gun program. Experts believe that if all goes well, the electromagnetic cannon is expected to be deployed around 2035 and become the "iconic" technology on Japan's next-generation destroyers, which may be an opportunity to change the rules of the game.
However, this test launch was only the tip of the iceberg of Japan's armament development. Not long ago, Japan** passed the 2024 annual defense budget, which hit an unprecedented high, reaching 795 trillion yen, equivalent to 56 billion US dollars, an increase of more than 16% from the previous year. One of the main uses of this huge amount of money is to accelerate the deployment of long-range cruise missiles, and in response to a variety of potential threats, Japan will also spare no effort to build up its military capabilities with F-35 fighter jets and other U.S. **.
On the same day that the budget was passed, Japan also ushered in a major change in its export policy. In order to gain a foothold in the international arms market, Japan lifted the ban on lethal exports and allowed the export of Japanese-made exports and components to the licensing countries. It is the first major revision since the first easing of the export ban in 2014 and signals Japan's determination to strengthen its defense industry amid rising security tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
This move is not only a policy adjustment, but also a new chapter in international cooperation and competition for Japan's military industry. The latest news shows that Japan's cooperation with Britain and Italy in developing the next generation of fighters will play an important role in the arena of future military technology competition. This cooperation will further profoundly affect the pattern of the world arms market and enable the development of Japan's military science and technology to no longer be confined to the domestic market, but to the international community.
On the whole, Japan's frequent moves in the field of armaments undoubtedly have a far-reaching impact on the world. From the world's first test launch of an electromagnetic cannon to a record high defense budget, to a major adjustment of the country's export policy, all of this shows that Japan is rising at an astonishing rate in terms of military technology and defense capabilities. And the international military-industrial cooperation it has opened has injected new variables into future military competition. At this tense time, Japan has chosen to step onto the international stage, and we can't help but see how the archipelagic nation will write its own legend in the future military arena.