I think you've missed my point. I asked what utility JSOW, specifically, would have. You've not answered that.
Of course I did. It's going to have the exact same utility that any other land attack capable weapon has. Your argument assumes Japan has no need for land attack capability from a long range missile, which of course we know to be incorrect due to the inherent capability for such in it's current inventory (ASM-2 to be precise).
Your first example assumes that Japan is in an all-out war with China, & has already lost the first stage, including the loss of air superiority over Ryukyu & control of the sea around the islands. At this point, they'd be completely focused on the air-sea battle, both the prevent further Chinese gains & because the islands could not be regained without command of the air & sea.
On the contrary. It assume Japan needs to take military action against a foreign invader who lodges on some of their islands. The Japanese themselves are concerned in particular about the Ryukyu and the Prime Minister himself has called for increased protection and defences being placed there (to no effect as yet).
I'm sorry, but if you can't see the utility of a weapon like JSOW in such a scenario, employed in attacking C4I facilities, SAM sites, vehicles, ships, fuel/ammunition dumps etc then I'm not sure why we're discussing this. It's not soley a bunker busting weapon. See Australia's weapons trials and how we employed it...
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w73pbfRJwOs"]RAAF Conduct Weapons Trial with New F18 Hornets - YouTube[/nomedia]
That command of the air & sea would require defeat of the PLAF & PLAN. I don't see much use for JSOW in that battle. They'd want something longer range than JSOW for attacking Chinese air bases & SAM sites, unless the PLAF has been beaten in the air - & if so, how did the islands fall?
Your second example assumes Japan launching attacks in response to N. Korean missiles being fired over Japan. That won't happen. Japan would only bomb North Korea in response to a direct attack.
They might very well want something longer ranged than JSOW in the long term and Raytheon is working on that very thing. My point is that a country that has deliberately denied itself "offensive" weapons since WW2 seems to be nearing the point where it may be edging ever so slightly back towards re-acquiring them.
As it will be ready to go from day dot if they purchase the Super Hornet or JSF (which seems likely) it would be a good purchase for many reasons. Your own JDAM example shows they are willing to acquire foreign weapons when necessary.
I agree they won't be attacking North Korea first, I see that the acquisition of a standoff weapon capability as a direct response to further aggression (short of outright war) from the North Koreans at a "detente" level.
Japan already has a better maritime strike capability than JSOW can provide, integrated on current aircraft which will remain in service for long after the next type is operational.
I disagree. When they have ASM-3 in-service they should have a better weapon in-service, I would suggest the ASM-2 is a far less capable weapon than JSOW C1.
1. It's a subsonic weapon same as the JSOW C1.
2. It is not of a low observable design.
3. It is shorter ranged than the JSOW C1.
4. Like the JSOW it features an IIR seeker, data-link and INS guidance package. It does not feature a radar seeker or a GPS package, meaning it has no active terminal guidance mode, nor an ability to update it's own position and fly via waypoints other than by direct operator control. It must be "steered" onto a target in any final engagement, unless it has automatic target recognition capability, which has not been disclosed that I have seen. If it has, then it is still only equivalent to JSOW in that regard and lacks the GPS guidance package.
5. It has a smaller warhead and has less obvious land attack utility...
I doubt many would claim the ASM-2 a better weapon than the Harpoon Block II ASM, yet Harpoon Block II users are acquiring the moving maritime targetting enabled version of JSOW as their primary strike weapon.
It obviously has something going for it...
