Japan launched its first military communications satellite on Tuesday, January 24, suggesting an increase in the nation's security and military forces.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the first out of three X-band defense communication satellites some 22,000 miles above Earth at 4:44 p.m. local time. These satellites will give the Japanese Self-Defense Forces the ability to relay commands to its armed forces and to upgrade and expand the country's military capabilities.

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JAXA's H-IIA booster rocket launched the Kirameki-2 defense communications satellite from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture in southwest Japan. This military satellite was developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. The Kirameki-2 satellite will replace civilian satellites that are currently being used by the Self-Defense Forces.

Japanese Defense Ministry officials said that these new satellites would enhance direct communications with ground bases and units across marine and air self-defense forces at rapid speeds via highly efficient and high running capacity networks.

Japan will utilize these capbilities to focus on increasing missile activity in North Korea which are potentially dangerous to other parts of the country especially its remote islands.

The ministry revealed that these new communications satellites would operate for around 15 years using X-band radar technology which is the frequency used for military operations communications. 

The Kirameki-2 will be placed into orbit over the Indian Ocean and will also be used for United Nations peacekeeping operations in Africa especially South Sudan and Somalia to monitor shipping routes from piracy.

Meanwhile, the Kirameki-1 was set to be launched in July 2016, but it is now scheduled for March 2018. The Kirameki-3 is slated for a 2020 launch. The Kirameki-1 will be placed in orbit over the Pacific region and the Kirameki-3 will operate over Japan.

The Kirameki 1 and the Kirameki 2 are estimated to have cost about US $1.1 billion, according to Japanese defense ministry officials.