Japan to launch military space force

[Ultimate Paragon]

http://news.yahoo.com/japan-launch-military-space-force-report-054548014.html

Tokyo (AFP) - Japan is planning to launch a military space force by 2019 that would initially be tasked with protecting satellites from dangerous debris orbiting the Earth, a report said.

The move is aimed at strengthening Japan-US cooperation in space, and comes after the countries pledged to boost joint work on monitoring space debris, Kyodo news agency said Sunday.

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 said, citing unnamed sources.

Japan's defence ministry is looking at creating the new force using personnel from the Air Self-Defence Force, the country's air force, it added.

The unit would acquire radar and telescope facilities, jointly with the science ministry and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, to run its observatory operations, Kyodo said.

Interesting development.

[ironbite]

I've seen how this anime turns out.

[RavynousHunter]

Well, at least we don't have dangerous bug-mutants exacting Gaia's vengeance on us for nebulous reasons, causing us to move to space and subsequently lose our humanity.

[guizonde]

goddammit, japan! gundam was NOT an instruction manual!


(ps: japan, keep being awesome)

[ironbite]

.....why not?

[niam2023]

Now we just need colonies, and a pseudo-philosophical dictatorship to rule them!

[RavynousHunter]

Shit, they're already working on power armour, this is hardly surprising.  Japan's the world's most insane technological powerhouse.

[Stormwarden]

RavynousHunter: Nice Blue Gender reference. Me? I can't wait for them to create transforming F-14s and getting them ready for space flight on a space carrier. Just leave out the bad J-Pop.

[Lt. Fred]

Outrageously unconstitutional.

[Art Vandelay]

Outrageously unconstitutional.

It's pretty safe to say at this point that Japan isn't in fact going to try and take over Asia again if we let them have more than a skeleton defense force.

[Askold]

I think that this is a good idea, space junk is a serious problem for satellites and future plans for orbital activity.

...But if they start recruiting teenagers with attitude to pilot their mechs it is time to get worried.

[starseeker]

I think that this is a good idea, space junk is a serious problem for satellites and future plans for orbital activity.

...But if they start recruiting teenagers with attitude to pilot their mechs it is time to get worried.

Proper mech pilots aren't recruited, they just fall into the cockpit or happen to be the sole person around when the base with the super prototype is attacked.

[Commissar Kaz]

So does this mean there's going to be a few hundred casualties per day from the guys not piloting the super prototype?

[RavynousHunter]

RavynousHunter: Nice Blue Gender reference. Me? I can't wait for them to create transforming F-14s and getting them ready for space flight on a space carrier. Just leave out the bad J-Pop.

Ha, I knew everyone was gonna make Gundam references, so I thought I'd throw a curveball.  Glad somebody caught it, lol.

Outrageously unconstitutional.

It's pretty safe to say at this point that Japan isn't in fact going to try and take over Asia again if we let them have more than a skeleton defense force.

Yeah, I don't think Japan really cares about that crap, anymore.  Having had your country literally nuked would likely take the conquering drive out of anyone.  Besides, its far easier to just sell the crazy military tech to everyone else.  If they all end up killing one another, then you win by default.

[Ultimate Paragon]

RavynousHunter: Nice Blue Gender reference. Me? I can't wait for them to create transforming F-14s and getting them ready for space flight on a space carrier. Just leave out the bad J-Pop.

Ha, I knew everyone was gonna make Gundam references, so I thought I'd throw a curveball.  Glad somebody caught it, lol.

Outrageously unconstitutional.

It's pretty safe to say at this point that Japan isn't in fact going to try and take over Asia again if we let them have more than a skeleton defense force.

Yeah, I don't think Japan really cares about that crap, anymore.  Having had your country literally nuked would likely take the conquering drive out of anyone.  Besides, its far easier to just sell the crazy military tech to everyone else.  If they all end up killing one another, then you win by default.

Besides, this rearmament program is about Japan helping its allies.