quote:

---

Japan Deploying Patriot Missiles in Tokyo

27 May 2005

[fnn] -- The Japan Defense Agency has deployed advanced Patriot missile defense batteries to protect the capitol city of Tokyo, according to a report in a Japanese newspaper.

The Sankei Shimbun reported the JDA has deployed batteries of PAC-3 at a metro Tokyo military base, to intercept any incoming ballistic missiles from N. Korea. The battery of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 systems will be located at the Fuchu Air Base.

The battery must be deployed in Tokyo because of short maximum intercept ranges approaching 30 km [about 19 miles]. Tokyo is one of the world's largest population centers and is within range of N. Korean ballistic missiles.

Missile units are located at six sites around Japan, the paper said, adding three of them would be equipped with upgraded PAC-3 systems late next year.

The government decided in December to deploy the U.S.-made systems as part of the JDA's push for more spending on missile defense, in light of N. Korea's advances.

China, too, has increased its belligerency towards Japan recently, adding new concerns for Japanese defense officials.

In all, defense officials said, the military wants to purchase sea-based Standard Missile [SM-3] missiles, remodel destroyers equipped with Aegis battle management systems, and purchase upgraded PAC-3 systems.

© 2005 First Net News.

---