Japans Navy Self-Defense-Force achieves second successful SM-3 Intercept
Interceptor Shield Report
Nathan J Hunt
October 28, 2009
The Japanese naval destroyer the JS Myoko “DDG-175” today on October 28th, 2009 achieved the second successful missile Intercept for Japans expanding missile defense program, with the intercept of a target test ballistic missile today. The JS Myoko was operating off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii where the JS Myoko tracked and monitored the target missile that was launched by Personnel at the U.S Navy’s Pacific Missile Test Range Facility.
The crew of the JS Myoko targeted and tracked the missile before firing a single SM-3 Block 1A missile that soon after successfully intercepted the test missile in a successful hit intercept.
The test today not only tested Japan’s third ship to be outfitted and equipped with missile defense ability but also preparedness of the system for integration of the newer SM-3 IIA class missiles, these new class of missiles are currently in joint development between the united states and Japan that are developing the next generation of the SM-3 Missile.
Work on upgrading the JS-myoko to have missile defense ability first started back in January of 2008 when Lockheed martin won the contract to start conversion of the DDG-175 to the Ballistic missile defense role. Previously in December of 2007 Japan conducted its first successful intercept of a ballistic missile with the naval ship the JS Kong.
Missile defense has come to the for front for the country of Japan in recent years with North Korea’s continued testing and developing of ballistic missiles that can threaten Japan along with North Korea’s testing of nuclear weapons, Japan has moved the issue of missile defense from the back to the for front and has since be striving to deploy systems to counter these threats and has expanded joint research and protection agreements with the United States.
