Society

Japan to introduce new missile defense system

Aug 17 (NHK) - Japan's Defense Ministry has decided to consider introducing a new US-made missile defense system known as "Aegis Ashore" in light of progress in North Korea's missile development.

Japan is prepared for North Korea's possible launches of ballistic missiles by deploying a destroyer equipped with the Aegis advanced radar system and PAC3 interceptor missile units. The Aegis advanced radar system is designed to intercept a missile outside the atmosphere and a land-based PAC 3 system is capable of intercepting a missile entering the atmosphere.

But the ministry is considering ways to strengthen the country's missile defense capabilities as Pyongyang is advancing the technology to launch a ballistic missile.

The Aegis Ashore is a land-based version of the Aegis advanced radar system.

The ministry will include related costs for the new system in drafting a budgetary request for next fiscal year.

It is also planning to increase the number of destroyers equipped with the Aegis advanced radar system from the current 4 to 5 by the end of this year, bringing forward the original plan by the end of March of 2018.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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