Japan to Test Sea-Based Missile Interceptor

The Japanese destroyer JDS Kongo is expected to fire a Standard Missile 3 interceptor at a mock enemy target next week in a test of the U.S.-made defense system, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, Nov. 19).

A Japanese Defense Ministry spokeswoman said the exercise near Hawaii would be the first time that any nation other than the United States had tested the system.

“The actual date of the test will be decided depending on weather and other conditions,” the spokeswoman said.

As part of continuing missile defense efforts (see GSN, Nov. 29), Japan plans to install the SM-3 interceptor system on vessels that use the Aegis air-defense system (Agence France-Presse/Straits Times, Dec. 14).

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