Thread: Japan to Buy Two US-Built Anti-Missile Systems

Japan will purchase a U.S.-built, land-based missile defense system in response to what it considers the rapidly growing threat from North Korea.


Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet approved a plan Tuesday to buy two Aegis Ashore missile interceptor systems at a cost of nearly $2 billion. The new Aegis Ashore system, which duplicates the sea-based version deployed on Japanese warships, likely will not be fully operational until 2023.


Japanese defense officials also considered purchasing the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, another U.S.-built anti-missile system, but chose the Aegis Ashore due to its cost-effectiveness.


A statement issued by the cabinet shortly after approving the plan said it was urgent for Japan to upgrade its ballistic missile defense capabilities in light of the "imminent" threat posed by Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. North Korea test fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile late last month that could potentially reach the eastern United States.


Tokyo is also planning to purchase U.S.-built long-range cruise missiles, a decision that would prove controversial since Japan's post-World War Two pacifist constitution renounces war.

https://www.voanews.com/a/japan-to-p...a/4169822.html

Originally Posted by misskit

Japan's post-World War Two pacifist constitution renounces war.

Believe that will be changed soon.

Originally Posted by misskit

Tokyo is also planning to purchase U.S.-built long-range cruise missiles

Prolly Tomahawk.

Originally Posted by misskit

chose Aegis Ashore due to its cost-effectiveness.

Makes sense. Same missile.

Trump rubs his hands with pleasure how his peaceful rhetoric is bringing jobs to American people. Unlike the poor purchasers who now have to scrape their coffers to pay for their purchase orders...

^ Spot on. Method in Trump's madness.

Don't believe that they are allowed to buy from anybody else? so hardly surprising they are 'US" built!

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Trump rubs his hands with pleasure how his peaceful rhetoric is bringing jobs to American people. Unlike the poor purchasers who now have to scrape their coffers to pay for their purchase orders...

Originally Posted by Neverna

^ Spot on. Method in Trump's madness.

+1

Trump is just a Salesman.

He's a good one, but glimpse past that and the StrawMan is evident.

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Trump rubs his hands with pleasure how his peaceful rhetoric is bringing jobs to American people. Unlike the poor purchasers who now have to scrape their coffers to pay for their purchase orders...

You mean the Japanese could have bought the equipment from Russia or China much cheaper?

^I don't think there has been such option specified...

Originally Posted by Norton

Believe that will be changed soon.

Been of this nature for decades, thanks to Uncle Sugar promoting and encouraging a war-like mindset throughout the broader region for every bit of a half-century.

Siwilai.

Published on Aug 28, 2017
The Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) staged a pre-planned training exercise on Tuesday, using Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) surface to air missile. The training, at the US Yokota Air Base west of Tokyo, took place as North Korea fired a ballistic missile from Pyongyang that flew over Japan.

Published on Feb 8, 2017
KAUAI, HAWAII— The U.S. and Japan have conducted a successful missile interception test with an interceptor launched from a guided-missile destroyer.

The test took place on Friday night off Kauai island in Hawaii, according to a U.S. Navy press release.

A medium-range ballistic missile target was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on the island. The USS John Paul Jones destroyer detected the target with its onboard radar and successfully intercepted it with its Aegis Missile Defense system.

“The missile, developed jointly by a Japanese and U.S. government and industry team, is vitally important to both our nations and will ultimately improve our ability to defend against increasing ballistic missile threats around the world,” MDA Director Vice-Admiral Jim Syring said in the press release.

The U.S. Navy has 62 guided-missile destroyers equipped with the Aegis system while Japan has six, CNN reported.

Welcome to defense tube the number one channel on defense related news
What is THAAD?
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or simply abbreviated as THAAD, is a missile defence system that is designed to intercept and destroy short and medium-range ballistic missiles in their final flight phase. First proposed in 1987 and then finally deployed in 2008, the THAAD cannot be used as a form of attack against an enemy. Its role, by use of a powerful radar, is to simply track and destroy missiles before they are launched.
Lockheed Martin is the primary contractor in the THAAD project. Each THAAD system comprised of – interceptors, launchers, a radar, a fire control unit and support equipment. According to the company, the radar first intercepts an incoming missile. Any such threat is identified by those manning the system, who then fire a projectile from a truck, called the interceptor, at the missiles. Lockheed Martin said that finally by use of just the projectile’s kinetic energy, the ballistic missile is destroyed. Reports claim that the use of kinetic energy makes the anti-missile system safer as it does not make use of warheads to destroy missiles.
Why is the deployment of THAAD important, and why has it angered China?
Following Kim Jong-un’s accession as the supreme leader of North Korea in 2012, the country has continuously proclaimed of its nuclear capabilities to the world. This has kept North Korea’s neighbours, the South, on their heels. Considering the political tensions between the two nations, South Korea first started looking into the THAAD missile system in 2013. South Korea at first had even considered developing its own anti-missile system before it turned towards the THAAD. For them, the North poses a nuclear threat, and such a missile defence system seemed a necessity.
How does is it compare to Israel’s anti-missile system – The Iron Dome?
Iron Dome, Israel’s missile defence system, has been operational since March 2011 and in many ways is similar to the US’ THAAD system. With the threat of rockets from Gaza attacking Israel’s urban and highly sensitive areas, the Iron Dome claims to intercept 90 per cent of missiles headed towards it.
Both the systems are highly sophisticated and serve the same purpose. However, there are some differences between the two.
For one, the Iron Dome has a much shorter detection range compared to the THAAD system. But considering that THAAD is deployed at a much higher altitude, it does not work well against artillery shells, which the Iron Dome is ideal for. The THAAD has much larger interceptor missiles which is considered perfect for detection of ballistic missiles while on the other hand the Iron Dome serves the purpose of intercepting short and medium range missiles and sometimes mortar shells.
What would the deployment of the THAAD system mean to the security balance of the region?
As China has claimed time and time again, the deployment of THAAD would destabilise security in the region. Many experts believe that the deployment of the system by the US in South Korea is not merely a defensive measure, as claimed by US. Some believe that the THAAD would only further increase American presence in the region that would only add to tensions.
While China and North Korea have continuously opposed the deployment of THAAD, there have been concerns from South Korea as well with regards to the anti-missile system. With the installation of some parts of the THAAD system already underway, protests have sparked off in South Korea against the deployment. Such a deployment has caused major worries amongst the people in South Korea with tension regarding peace and security in the region escalating.