Japan Base Could Host U.S. Forward Deployed X-Band Radar
October 17, 2005 :: Asahi Shimbun :: News
Japan may allow the United States to deploy the new FBX mobile radar on its territory, according to Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun. The deployment of such radar on Japanese territory for the potential use of defending against a missile attack on the United States is controversial because some see it as violating the Japanese constitution and the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty.
The deployment is important, however, for the detection and tracking capabilities of the more advanced and longer-range X-band radar. Such detection would be important to a missile attack launched from within the Eurasian continent against either Japan or the United States. From Asahi Shimbun:
The primary candidate site for the radar system is the Air Self-Defense Force’s Shariki air station in Tsugaru, Aomori Prefecture, Japanese government sources said.
They said the radar system being considered is a U.S-developed X-band radar that is more advanced than the system Japan is scheduled to install in fiscal 2008 to guard against medium-range ballistic missiles.
The X-band radar has a longer detection range, enabling it to respond to ballistic missiles launched from deep within a continent, and is also capable of differentiating missile shapes.
The United States successfully completed an experiment in September in which the X-band radar distinguished between decoy and ballistic missiles.
Plans call for the deployment of one X-band radar system in the current fiscal year.
In talks in the summer of 2004 concerning the realignment of U.S. military forces in Japan, American officials formally proposed the deployment of the X-band radar in Japan to protect the United States from ballistic missile attacks. …
The Shariki air station is being considered a candidate site because it is located in an area capable of detecting missiles North Korea may launch at the United States.
Although the United States would likely share in the usage of Shariki air station, no specific date has been set for deployment of the radar system.
Japan and the United States have already reached an agreement in principle to move the ASDF’s Air Defense Command from Tokyo’s Fuchu to the U.S. military’s Yokota Air Base as part of plans to implement a joint missile defense system.
The plans call for establishing a joint tactical center at Yokota where the Air Defense Command could share information with the 5th Air Force of the United States based at Yokota.
The alleged capabilities of the FBX-T to track missiles launched from “deep within” the continent could plausibly be integrated into a system of interceptors capable of defending against Chinese missiles. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Japan, Detection and Tracking
» Missile system details for: Forward-Based X-Band Radar-Transportable
Japan to Deploy Additional 18 Patriots by 2011
October 10, 2005 :: Kyodo :: News
Japan will deploy some eighteen Patriot Missiles around the country by 2011, reports the Kyodo news service, citing the Japanese Defense Agency. “It is desirable to put PAC-3s in place at all of our 24 air defense artilleries nationwide. We need more than 30 PAC-3s to defend the entire airspace of Japan,” Kyodo quotes a senior official at the Air Self-Defense Force as saying. The official added that Japan needs more than thirty to defend the nation from limited, short range attacks. According to Kyodo, the additional deployment of eighteen PAC-3s will bring the count to 32, implying that Japan already has some fourteen interceptors. Whether these fourteen are all PAC-3s or if the number includes some less-advanced PAC-2 interceptors is not clarified.
The Japanese are able to develop the additional Patriot interceptors because of an agreement reached with the United States in March which gives Japan a license to do so.
Also left unclear from the reports is whether the numbers refer to the missiles themselves or, as seems more likely, to batteries of missiles. To spread thirty-two missiles over twenty four locations would mean many air bases would have only a single interceptor—not much of a defense. (Article, Link)
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Japan to Design Interceptor Nose Cone
September 22, 2005 :: Kyodo :: News
Demonstrating both cooperation with the U.S. and ambitions to pursue missile defenses of its own, Japan will partner with the U.S. to design a nose cone for a ballistic missile interceptor, Kyodo reports, citing close sources. The interceptor at issue is an upgraded version of the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) which is part of the Aegis sea-based defense system, in which Japan and other countries are quite interested. An agreement between the two countries specifying the cooperation is said to be expected soon, possibly by the end of the year. The Japanese technology would subsequently be tested by the U.S. in a joint flight test from Hawaii. (Article, Link)
» August 25, 2005: Japan Times: Japan expected to produce four components for new SM-3
» More stories on: Allies, Japan
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
Japan May Deploy PAC-3 in March 2006
July 23, 2005 :: Reuters :: News
Japan may begin deploying its Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air missiles as early as March 2006 to counter the current threat from nearby ballistic missiles, whether from North Korea or China. The original plan was to begin the deployment in late FY 2006-2007—ending in March 2007. The Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun, however, recently cited government sources indicating that Tokyo is considering a sooner deployment due to the increasing missile threat from North Korea and China. The report comes one day after the Japanese parliament approved legislation that would allow a swifter response to ballistic missile attacks. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Deployment, Japan
» Missile system details for: Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3)
Japan Approves Bill Authorizing Missile Intercept
July 22, 2005 :: CNN :: News
Japan’s parliament has passed a major piece of legislation giving authority to its defense chief to shoot down incoming missiles. The bill allows the defense chief to act without additional approval of Japan’s prime minister or Cabinet. The bill is significant because Japan’s pacifist postwar constitution renounces the use of force to settle international disputes, which has been interpreted to preclude defensive action against missiles which may or may not be aimed at Japan. In recent years Japan has become increasingly concerned with the ballistic missile threat from North Korea and, along with the U.S., is currently researching a joint sea-based missile defense system. The bill passed both the upper and lower houses, meaning that the legislation will be enacted. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Japan
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
Possible Spread of Defensive Interceptors by Japan
July 15, 2005 :: Kyodo :: News
Japanese-U.S. SM-3 sea-based interceptor missiles could be offered to third countries, reports the Japanese news agency Kyodo. According to General Yoshinori Ono, director of Japan’s Defense Agency, “If there is a request from the United States, it could be possible for those missiles to be provided to third countries under certain circumstances.” Ono’s statement follows Japan’s decision last year to end its decades-old ban on weapons exports. In December 2004, Japan stated that it could export missile parts to the U.S. under “strict controls” for national security, with exports to third countries to be considered on a case-to-case basis. (Article, Link)
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» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
U.S. Asks Japan for $545 Million
June 20, 2005 :: AFP :: News
The U.S. has asked Japan to contribute $545 million to the joint Aegis sea-based missile defense system, reports the AFP. The U.S. intends to contribute an equal amount to the project. Some reports indicate, however, that Tokyo finds this sum too high and plans to ask for a reduction in cost. The AFP notes that Japan is attempting to cut its defense spending amid mixed signals on the direction of its economy. (Link)
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» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
Japan Ready to Move Ahead with Missile Defense
June 7, 2005 :: Washington Times :: News
The Washington Times quotes Yoshinori Ono, chief of Japan’s Defense Agency, as saying that the joint Japanese-U.S. sea-based missile defense program will soon enter the development stage. The program includes the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptor, which will be deployed on Aegis-equipped destroyers and cruisers. The two nations launched the project in 1999 after North Korea tested its long-range Taep’o-dong 1 ballistic missile, which flew over Japan and landed into the Pacific Ocean. The article notes that actual production of the SM-3 is scheduled to begin around 2011. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Allies, Japan
» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
U.S. to Sell Japan SM-2 Interceptors
June 6, 2005 :: Reuters :: News
The Pentagon plans to sell 40 Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) surface-to-air missiles to Japan, reports Reuters. Japan has requested the interceptors for its Maritime Self Defense Force fleet, in order to bolster its defense of critical sea-lanes. According to the Pentagon, “It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist Japan to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability, which will contribute to an acceptable military balance in the area.” (Article, Link)
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» Missile system details for: Aegis Ship-Based BMD
Japan Considering Laser Interceptor Cooperation
January 10, 2005 :: News
Japan, which has been ambitiously moving towards a number of missile defense programs, is also considering cooperation with the U.S. on the issue of laser missile interception, reports the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper. The U.S. has reportedly suggested such cooperation to Japan unofficially, which could include the airborne laser program. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: High Energy Defenses, Japan
» Missile system details for: Airborne Laser (ABL)
