Japan Allows U.S. PAC-3 Deployment at Okinawa

Japan has approved the deployment of Patriot Advanced Capability 3 antimissile batteries at the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Asia Pulse reported yesterday (see GSN, May 9).

The deployment, which could occur this fiscal year, would be designed to boost defenses against a possible missile attack from China or North Korea.

Japan and the United States are cooperating on a layered missile defense system that includes ground-based PAC-3 missiles and Standard Missile 3 interceptors fired from warships equipped with the Aegis ballistic missile defense system.

The Japanese air force also plans to position PAC-3 batteries at bases in the Saitama and Shizuoka prefectures near Tokyo, among other locations, Asia Pulse reported (Asia Pulse, May 22).

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