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| Japanese H-2A rocket |
TANEGASHIMA, Japan (Kyodo) -- The Japanese Defense Ministry's first communications satellite was successfully placed in orbit late Tuesday afternoon, part of the country's efforts to upgrade the Self-Defense Forces' communications network to better deal with security challenges.
An H-2A rocket carrying the Kirameki-2 defense communications satellite was launched at 4:44 p.m. from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan.
The Kirameki-2 satellite is one of three defense communications satellites that will replace three civilian satellites currently used by the SDF.
According to Defense Ministry officials, the new satellites will facilitate direct communications among units of the Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces through a high-speed, high-capacity network, serving as a communications infrastructure to counter the North Korean missile threat and defend remote islands.
The ministry plans to operate the Kirameki-2 over the Indian Ocean and expects it to be also used by SDF personnel taking part in U.N. peacekeeping operations in South Sudan and an antipiracy mission off Somalia, they said.
Read the full story at The Mainichi