US satellites would slash cost of Japan defensive strike: expert

TOKYO -- Japan can dramatically reduce the cost of developing the capability to strike enemy missile bases before an imminent attack if it uses the U.S. military's satellite-based early warning system, an analysis by a professor at the National Defense Academy shows.

The average annual cost of the necessary equipment and systems -- including development, production, maintenance and decommissioning expenses, divided by expected years of service -- could be cut as low as 22.4 billion yen ($209 million), according to Yasuhiro Takeda.