Sep 07, 2017 (the-japan-news.com) - With North Korea making progress in its nuclear and ballistic missile development, the government is considering developing a new system for ballistic missile defense, it has been learned.
Hitting a ballistic missile with a high-power laser soon after launch could neutralize or destroy it. Recently, North Korea has been firing its missiles on a "lofted trajectory," making them difficult to intercept with current weapons systems. The new technology is meant to address this weakness.
The system is intended to work by shining a high-power laser, mostly from aircraft or warships, at a ballistic missile immediately after it is launched, in the so-called boost stage. Heat from the laser would then deform the missile.
Cheaper than interceptor missiles, such lasers could possibly be used against multiple ballistic missile attacks, not just those on a lofted trajectory.
The Defense Ministry has requested ¥8.7 billion in its fiscal 2018 budget for research on high-power laser systems to take down mortar rounds, small drones and other such objects.
Basic research on high-power lasers has been under way since fiscal 2010. The government wants to research how to weaponize the technology over five years starting in fiscal 2018.
Since laser systems would be cheaper than interceptor missiles, the ministry eventually wants to incorporate them into its missile defense posture.
