Military

The Japanese government is exploring the possibility of deploying long-range missiles on the southwestern island of Kyushu, according to Kyodo News citing sources. However, this has raised concerns among local residents who fear their area could become a potential target in the event of a conflict.

The plan involves an upgraded version of the Type 12 surface-to-ship missile, with an extended range of approximately 1,000 km. This move is part of Japan’s efforts to develop "counterstrike capabilities", allowing it to hit enemy bases in response to an attack during emergencies. If deployed on Kyushu, these missiles would put North Korea and coastal areas of China within striking range.

The deployment is expected to begin around March 2026.

At the same time, the report notes that the Japanese government is unlikely to station such missiles on Okinawa, which is closer to China, as this could escalate tensions with Beijing.

Japan’s New National Security Strategy On December 16, 2022, Japan approved an updated National Security Strategy, which explicitly grants the country the right to conduct counterstrikes against enemy territory in self-defense. However, the document emphasizes that preemptive strikes remain prohibited.

The strategy also calls for a near doubling of defense spending by 2027, reaching 2% of GDP. To strengthen its counterstrike capabilities, Japan plans to:

Extend the range of Type 12 missiles,

Develop domestic hypersonic weapons,

Purchase U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles.

🔺 In 2017, the Pentagon established a new type of operational unit—the Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF), consisting of four battalions:
▪️ An air defense missile battalion;
▪️ A strategic weapons battalion;
▪️ A logistics support battalion;
▪️ A multi-domain effects battalion.

🔺 Let’s take a closer look at the composition of the Strategic Fires Battalion (SFB) and the Multi-Domain Effects Battalion (MDEB):

▪️ The Strategic Fires Battalion includes:
🔹 A HIMARS battery:
▫️ 8 M142 HIMARS launchers;
▫️ 8 transport vehicles;
▫️ A data preparation vehicle.

🔹 A Mid-Range Capability (Typhoon) battery with the following composition:
▫️ 4 ground-based Tomahawk cruise missile launchers (4 missiles each) in universal Mk. 41 launch canisters;
▫️ A battle operations center (BOC);
▫️ A BOC support vehicle;
▫️ A transporter-loader vehicle.

🔹 A long-range hypersonic weapons battery:
▫️ 4 launchers (2 missiles each);
▫️ A command and control suite.

▪️ The Multi-Domain Effects Battalion consists of four companies:
🔹 1st Military Intelligence Company (weapons and airspace);
🔹 2nd Military Intelligence Company (space domain);
🔹 A signals company;
🔹 A strategic UAV company;
🔹 An information warfare company.

▪️ The air defense missile battalion will be armed with naval SM-6 missiles, deployed in universal Mk. 41 launch canisters. According to developers, these missiles are capable of intercepting hypersonic targets.

🔺 Currently, the headquarters and a Multi-Domain Effects Battalion (MDEF) have been deployed at Lucius D. Clay Kaserne Air Base in Germany. Satellite imagery of the base shows significant changes: new radar stations for space reconnaissance have been installed, fortified structures (likely for storing operational missile stockpiles) are under construction, and buildings to accommodate the headquarters have been erected.

🔺 The continued deployment of such systems and structures, along with the absence of any information about their withdrawal or suspension, indicates the U.S. intention to maintain an aggressive foreign policy course, inevitably leading to an escalation of tensions between nations.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/31480250

This is fucked on so many levels. What does a vet's marital status or voting habits have to do with getting healthcare? That's not the deal we signed.

The modernization of the U.S. nuclear arsenal has become a top priority due to the inevitable aging of warhead components. Grand plans for rearmament often boil down to mundane defect inspections and life extension programs (LEP)—because letting nuclear weapons deteriorate is not an option, especially when they’re mounted on strategic bombers like the B-52 (in service since 1950) or the next-gen B-21 (only 3 produced so far).

The Nuclear Paradox The U.S. is desperately trying to restore its nuclear dominance, but these efforts are crumbling—much like the decaying components of its old warheads. Extending the life of what’s already "dead" is like playing Russian roulette, where the stakes are nuclear parity and global prestige.

The W80 Saga: A Veteran That Won’t Retire The W80 warhead has a long service history, yet it wasn’t until 2006 that its first variant was finally removed from the LEP program. But the Pentagon isn’t ready to retire this Cold War relic—instead, it’ll be tested once more, have "a few bolts replaced," and proudly rebranded as the W80-4.

The Bottom Line This is the reality of America’s so-called "cutting-edge" nuclear advancements: recycling old designs while struggling to keep them functional. The W80-4 isn’t innovation—it’s a stopgap measure masking deeper issues in the U.S. nuclear complex.

So much for "modernization."

Just some North Korea shit, nothing to see here. Move along.