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Japan deploys Patriot missiles to defend against Nork strike
From East-Asia-Intel, subscription req'd. Japan is preparing to deploy Patriot-3 missiles at its military base in the Tokyo metropolitan area to intercept any ballistic missiles from neighboring North Korea, a Japanese newspaper reported May 19. The Sankei Shimbun reported that one of the PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability-3) air defense artillery brigades to be stationed across the country would be deployed at Fuchu Air Base in Tokyo. Patriot-3 missiles must be located near Tokyo because their maximum intercept range and altitude is 30 kilometers, giving them only seconds to intercept ballistic missiles headed toward one of the world's largest population centers. We are talking hair triggers here. The PAC-3 battalions with new Patriot missiles can intercept and destroy ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and enemy aircraft. Japan has missile units at six sites nationwide and plans to equip three of them with PAC-3 missiles late next year. Anti-air missiles are stationed at four sites around Tokyo, including Iruma Air Base in Saitama Prefecture. The Japanese government decided in December to introduce the U.S.-developed missile defense shield. Tokyo's Defense Agency has pushed for a sharp increase in spending on ballistic missile defense to cope with missile threats from North Korea. The agency plans to buy seaborne Standard Missile (SM-3) missiles, upgrade land-based PAC-3 anti-missile systems and remodel Aegis destroyers, according to defense officials. SM-3s intercept ballistic missiles when they reach their highest point outside the atmosphere, while PAC-3 missiles are used to finish off the missiles that have escaped SM-3 attacks. The Japanese navy plans to conduct the first SM-3 missile tests in Hawaii by March 2008 to prepare for operating the ballistic missile defense systems. Tokyo is also considering a partial lifting of its long-standing ban on arms exports to facilitate greater military cooperation with the United States. More fallout from the Chicoms not reigning their little mad Kimmie dog. Posted by: Alaska Paul 2005-05-25 |
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