November 14, 2005 :: Kyodo :: News
The Japanese Defense Agency is planning to acquire 124 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) defensive interceptor missiles by fiscal 2010. The first 32 interceptors will be purchased from the United States, designed to be deployed at the military air bases perhaps as early as next year, and the remainder domestically produced in Japan. The move represents a very salutary and promising shift in international acceptance of the threat from ballistic missiles and the need to pursue active defense systems.
Kyodo reports that the missiles will be able to hit cruise missiles at an altitude of up to 20 kilometers, and that they will supplement the sea-based interceptors that will be a part of Japan’s defensive system based on Aegis destroyers, also of US origin. “Defensive coverage is limited and other areas (not covered) will be dependent on interception from Aegis ships,” a senior military officer is quoted as saying.
The missiles imported from the United States are said to cost around 500 million yen each, but the remainder will be produced by the domestic Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. company which is licensed to produce the interceptors. The joint production deal with Mitsubishi implements an agreement that was signed in March whereby the Bush administration authorized Japan to co-produce Patriots.
The plans for deployment include Tokyo and six other major urban centers, as well as four military bases in Saitama, Shizuoka, Gifu and Fukuoka prefectures; the bases will each receive four PAC-3 launch systems between 2006 and 2010. There will also be a total of two backup units overall. Of these 18 systems, 15 of them will have eight missiles each. (Article)
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