Japan to Buld More Submarines
Chosun Ilbo is reporting that the Japanese Maritime self Defense Force wil increase the size of its active submarine fleet to 20.
“The paper said the Japanese government plans to increase the number of submarines from the current 18 including two trainer submarines to more than 20 when it revises its Defense Program Guidelines by year’s end.
Tokyo has maintained 18 submarines since it first formulated the guidelines in 1976, although it has strengthened their capability by replacing superannuated vessels and with new ones.”
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Analysis. It would appear that between the North Koreans latest trouble making and the People’s Republic of China’s submarine penetrations into Japanese waters, that an arms race in submarines may have begun in Asia. After all, the best weapon against a submarine is another submarine.
