反撃能力の「目」、衛星網整備　長射程ミサイル配備本格化―防衛費、過去最大の８．５兆円・概算要求

　防衛省は３０日、２０２５年度予算の概算要求を発表した。総額は過去最大の８兆５３８９億円。中国や北朝鮮の軍備強化をにらんだ反撃能力（敵基地攻撃能力）整備のため、多数の小型衛星で標的を追尾する「衛星コンステレーション」構築に３２３２億円を計上。長射程ミサイル配備も本格化させ、遠方の目標を攻撃する能力の具体化を進める。
　当初は８兆４９８９億円とする方針だったが、４００億円増額した。政府は防衛力強化のため２３～２７年度に計４３兆円の防衛費を費やし、最終年度は８兆９０００億円とする計画。
　敵の射程外から攻撃する「スタンド・オフ防衛能力」に９７００億円を充てた。衛星コンステレーションは、同一軌道上に多数の小型画像衛星を並べ、継続的に目標を探知・追尾する反撃能力の「目」となる。６年間の計画で民間に委託。２５年度に打ち上げを始め、２７年度から運用を開始する見通しだ。（2024/08/30-16:51）

The Japanese Defense Ministry said Friday that it is seeking a record 8,538.9 billion yen under the government's fiscal 2025 budget, including 323.2 billion yen for establishing a satellite constellation as part of the country's counterstrike capability.
   The satellite constellation, or a group of small satellites capable of tracking targets, is aimed at countering military expansion by China and North Korea. The ministry is also planning to deploy in earnest long-range missiles that are able to strike distant targets.
   The total budget request is up 40 billion yen from the initially envisaged level of 8,489.9 billion yen. The government plans to spend a total of roughly 43 trillion yen in fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2027 on defenses, with expenditures in the final year likely to be set at 8.9 trillion yen.
   For fiscal 2025, a total of 970 billion yen was requested for so-called standoff defense capabilities, which would enable Japan to attack targets from outside enemy range.
   In the six-year plan to deploy a satellite constellation, to be consigned to the private sector, multiple small satellites will be launched and placed on the same orbit from fiscal 2025. They will start operations in fiscal 2027, serving as the "eyes" of Japan's counterstrike capability by continuously detecting and tracking targets.