Japan’s First Military Communications Satellite Kirameki-2 Launched from Tanegashima Space Port

On Tuesday, 24 Jan 2016, Japan launched its first military communications satellite aboard an H-IIA rocket at 0744 GMT. The lift-off took place from Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture.

According to a spokesman for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the satellite successfully entered the orbit.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries builds the launcher for Japanese space agency.

The new launch aims to boost the broadband capacity of Japan’s Self Defence Forces (SDF) to better cope with security challenges being posed by China in the region.

Japan plans to launch three so-called X-band satellites to quadruple broadband capacity in the country. These satellites will replace three civilian satellites that are currently used by the Self-Defense Forces. The new satellites will also help unify an overburdened communications network. According to Defense Ministry officials, direct communication among units of the Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces will be enhanced through these satellites. It is expected that Kirameki-2 will be positioned over the Indian Ocean, and will also be utilized by SDF personnel taking part in United Nations peacekeeping operations in South Sudan.

The first of the three satellites – Kirameki-1 – was actually scheduled to be launched in July 2016 from Europe’s Space port in French Guiana, but it was badly damaged while being transported from Japan to a launch site in French Guiana. Kirameki is now undergoing repair, and its launch is now scheduled for March 2018 at the earliest. Kirameki-3 is expected to be launched in 2020. While Kirameki-1 is expected to be positioned over the Pacific Ocean, the Kirameki-3 will operate over Japan. The Kirameki-1 and 2 are expected to cost about ¥130 billion ($1.1 billion).

China and Japan have disputes over a group of uninhabited islands (Senkaku/Diaoyu) in the East China Sea. There are also some disputes over exploitation of gas fields in zones claimed by both the countries. Japan is concerned about the increase in Chinese military activity in this area in recent times. Japan’s Ministry of Defence announced last week that Chinese aircraft approached Japanese airspace 644 times in nine months from April to December, almost double the 373 times a year earlier.