Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Japan Times
September 19, 2008
WHITE SANDS, N.M. (Kyodo)--The Air Self-Defense Force said it successfully shot down a mock ballistic missile Wednesday in Japan's first test of a U.S.-developed land-based missile interception system.
The firing of the two Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors concluded testing on the key capabilities of the nearly ¥1 trillion missile shield Japan hopes to complete by around fiscal 2010.
The ASDF conducted the test at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
The PAC-3 missile, designed to intercept targets in the atmosphere, is the last-ditch component of the two-layer missile shield. The primary component is the sea-based Standard Missile-3, which targets incoming ballistic threats while they're still in space.
In Wednesday's test, the ASDF tracked a mock ballistic missile launched by the U.S. military about 120 km away and fired a PAC-3 missile that hit the target, officers said.
The purpose of the test was to test the capabilities of the PAC-3 missile itself and other aspects of the system, including the radar, launcher and controller, the officers said earlier.
The ASDF was also trying to collect data on how wide the debris of a successful PAC-3 missile interception scatters. The Defense Ministry is looking to use the missiles over urban areas, the officers said.
Most of the equipment used in the ¥1.54 billion test was brought from Japan to the desert site, including the missiles, radar and launcher.
The ASDF has already deployed PAC-3 missiles at five bases, including near Tokyo, and plans to station them at six more nationwide.
Japan successfully tested the SM-3 interceptor system involving an Aegis destroyer in December near Hawaii.
September 19, 2008
WHITE SANDS, N.M. (Kyodo)--The Air Self-Defense Force said it successfully shot down a mock ballistic missile Wednesday in Japan's first test of a U.S.-developed land-based missile interception system.
The firing of the two Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors concluded testing on the key capabilities of the nearly ¥1 trillion missile shield Japan hopes to complete by around fiscal 2010.
The ASDF conducted the test at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
The PAC-3 missile, designed to intercept targets in the atmosphere, is the last-ditch component of the two-layer missile shield. The primary component is the sea-based Standard Missile-3, which targets incoming ballistic threats while they're still in space.
In Wednesday's test, the ASDF tracked a mock ballistic missile launched by the U.S. military about 120 km away and fired a PAC-3 missile that hit the target, officers said.
The purpose of the test was to test the capabilities of the PAC-3 missile itself and other aspects of the system, including the radar, launcher and controller, the officers said earlier.
The ASDF was also trying to collect data on how wide the debris of a successful PAC-3 missile interception scatters. The Defense Ministry is looking to use the missiles over urban areas, the officers said.
Most of the equipment used in the ¥1.54 billion test was brought from Japan to the desert site, including the missiles, radar and launcher.
The ASDF has already deployed PAC-3 missiles at five bases, including near Tokyo, and plans to station them at six more nationwide.
Japan successfully tested the SM-3 interceptor system involving an Aegis destroyer in December near Hawaii.