Japanese Ship Included in U.S. Missile Defense Test

A U.S. antiballistic missile test scheduled for June will for the first time include a Japanese destroyer equipped with the Aegis ballistic missile defense system, Kyodo News reported today (see GSN, April 28).

Participation of the destroyer Kirishima in the exercise off the coast of Hawaii would help strengthen information sharing between the two allies, according to Kyodo.

“We want to improve interoperability in maritime areas,” said Adm. Takashi Saito.

The Kirishima is expected to track a mock ballistic missile, while a U.S. Navy Aegis destroyer tries to destroy the target with a conventional Standard Missile 3 interceptor, Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force said.

Japan plans to begin equipping its Aegis destroyers with SM-3 interceptors in March 2008, according to Kyodo (Kyodo News/Yahoo!News, May 9).

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