Jane Edwards
Japan has asked the U.S. government to use a new radar for integration with a ground-based version of the Aegis ballistic missile defense platform the East Asian country plans to launch by 2023 in an effort to counter threats posed by North Korea, Reuters reported Wednesday.
Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters Japan wants to equip the Aegis Ashore platforms with the Spy-6 radar designed to increase the range and capability of BMD systems to detect missile threats.
The report said Japan will need to seek approval from the U.S. to field Spy-6 ahead of the launch date for BMD systems in an effort to provide radar manufacturer Raytheon and Aegis platform integrator Lockheed Martin enough time to develop and test the platform.
A source said the Missile Defense Agency may prevent the release of the new radar to Japan since the U.S. has not yet deployed the technology.
The East Asian country intends to establish two Aegis Ashore batteries sans missiles valued at approximately $700 million each, sources noted.
North Korea’s threat to Japan intensified after the former test-launched an intermediate range ballistic missile that crossed over Japan’s airspace Tuesday.
