Japan Seeks More Missile Interceptors 

Japan plans to speed deployment of missile defenses on its territory by purchasing 80 U.S.-made Patriot Advanced Capability 3 interceptors to be deployed in March 2007, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, July 20). 

The planned purchase reflects Tokyo’s concerns following North Korea’s missile tests last month, after which Japanese defense chief Fukushiro Nukaga made the special request in a letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, according to Kyodo News (see GSN, July 5).

Japan had earlier planned to build its own PAC-3 interceptors (see GSN, Nov. 14, 2005), as well as Standard Missile 3 interceptors, which would have been deployed in 2008 and 2009.  The latest plan, however, calls for Tokyo to spend nearly $100 million to purchase U.S.-built systems, Kyodo reported (Carl Freire, Associated Press/Washington Post, Aug. 24).

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