Japan has revealed 3 sea-based alternatives for the land-based, U.S.-developed Aegis Ashore missile interception system, said Japan's Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi on Friday.
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"We plan to deploy (the interception system) on a mobile platform in the ocean, and we would like to look into the specifics with the United States and the suppliers in a prompt manner," said Nobuo Kishi at a meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
These 3 alternatives are the introduction of destroyers equipped with an interception system, utilization of ships that belong to the private sector, and an offshore structure similar to those used to drill for oil, reports Japan Today.
Japan had announced his decision, in June 2020, to suspend plans to deploy the American missile defence system Aegis Ashore in Japan. The high cost and the time needed for the deployment of the Aegis Ashore system pushed Japan to terminate the process of deploying the US-made system.
"Through discussions between Japan and the US, the fact was that we made a judgment that improving the software would enable (the rocket boosters to fall in areas deemed safe),” said Jaoan's Defence Minster then, Taro Kono. He added: “In retrospect, we can’t refute criticism that our understanding was overly optimistic.”
The decision to deploy Aegis Ashore in Japan was made in 2017, the system expected to go into operation in fiscal 2025 at the earliest.
Aegis Ashore is a land-based version of the ship-based Aegis ballistic missile and air defence system. The system will be capable of operating Standard Missile 3 Block IIA interceptor missiles as well as Standard Missile 6 interceptors. In addition to the now-scrapped plans for a deployment in Akita prefecture, the Japanese government has identified a site at Yamaguchi prefecture for the second Aegis Ashore installation.
