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Japan, U.S. to Deploy Patriot Batteries
Japanese and U.S. officials today announced plans to begin deploying Patriot Advanced Capability 3 ballistic missile interceptors in Japan next month, the Washington Post reported (see GSN, July 10). “In view of the development, deployment and proliferation of ballistic missiles in the region, and the clear and present threats such as the recent missile launches by North Korea in particular, the government of Japan will continue to do its utmost to build up its ballistic missile defense capabilities in close cooperation with the United States,” Japan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The U.S. Defense Department plans to begin sending PAC-3 batteries and 600 troops from Fort Bliss, Texas, to the U.S. Kadena Air Base next month, according to the Post. The systems should have some operational capability before the end of 2006. Japanese defense officials said they would install PAC-3 batteries at their bases by next March, beginning at Iruma Base. Tokyo intends to deploy the system at several more installations through 2010. Tokyo and Washington last month activated an X-band Radar system on a northern Japanese air base as part of a wider joint missile defense scheme, according to the Post (Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, July 20).
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