Japan’s new missile defence system deployment will take six years
Locals are concerned about the plan, fearing the missile shields could become targets of terrorism and their powerful radars may harm humans
Japan is expected to take about six years to finish deploying one of the new US-developed land-based missile defence systems Tokyo says it needs to protect the country against North Korean missile attacks, officials said on Monday.
The schedule for installing an Aegis Ashore missile battery suggested by the US is one year behind Japan’s plan and the Defence Ministry is expected to call on Washington for help to set it up earlier.
Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters that the two defence systems, including Lockheed Martin’s cutting-edge SSR radar, will cost 268 billion yen (US$2.4 billion).
Onodera insisted the systems are vital for Japan’s security as “the threat from North Korea is unchanged”.
“We are not aware of any moves leading North Korea to abandon nuclear weapons and missiles,” he said.
For the deployment of the first battery, the US said about six years are needed after “concluding a contract” with Japan, according to the minister.
The government is considering two Ground Self-Defence Force training areas in Akita and Yamaguchi prefectures as candidate sites to install the Aegis Ashore systems. It had sought to complete the first deployment in the 2023 financial year.