November 25, 2007 :: Yomiuri Shimbun :: News
On November 25, the Japanese Defense Ministry announced it will conduct Patriot (PAC-3) missile deployment exercises at about 10 locations in Tokyo to test how the capital could be defended from a ballistic missile attack. The exercises are meant to determine the best locations for Japan's Self Defense Forces (SDF) missile defense units, which would be activated and deployed in Tokyo in the event of an emergency.
Currently, the only deployed PAC-3 interceptors are 40 kilometers away from downtown Tokyo, at the Iruma Air Base. The interceptors' 15-20 kilometer range would therefore be insufficient to protect possible targets such as the Prime Minister's office, the Diet and the Imperial Palace. The government would rely on early warning technology to immediately deploy missile interceptors to the new sites in the Tokyo to protect the central part of the city.
Japan's layered missile defense systems involve a blend of sea-based assets including Aegis-equipped destroyers and ground based PAC-3 interceptors. (Article)
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