Japan yesterday stood up a new air defense network that will combine the country's ballistic missile sensors and antimissile weapons, Kyodo News reported (see GSN, June 5).
The old Base Air Defense Ground Environment has given way to the Japan Aerospace Defense Ground Environment, which features improved automatic air warning and control technology and better defenses against ballistic missiles, according to the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force.
The network, which cost more than $940 million, was originally designed to improve the force's ability to counter attacks by airplanes or other airborne strikes, Kyodo reported. However, when Tokyo decided in 2003 to develop ballistic missile defenses, the plan was augmented to encompass those systems.
Japan's existing missile shield involves Aegis-equipped destroyers and Patriot missiles. In addition to its existing ground- and sea-based radars, the country also is developing sophisticated sensors capable of identifying and monitoring ballistic missiles (Kyodo News, July 1).