A Japanese navy ship has intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile in a test off Hawai‘i. The U.S. military fired the test’s target on Tuesday from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kaua‘i. The JS Myoko detected the target, tracked it
A Japanese navy ship has intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile in a test off Hawai‘i.
The U.S. military fired the test’s target on Tuesday from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kaua‘i.
The JS Myoko detected the target, tracked it and then fired an SM-3 interceptor missile from its deck. The interceptor hit the target in space above the Pacific Ocean.
The JFTM-3 test verified the newest engagement capability of the Japan Aegis BMD configuration of the recently upgraded Japanese destroyer, JS MYOKO (DDG-175), a Missile Defense Agency news release states.
At approximately 6 p.m., a separating, medium-range ballistic missile target was launched from PMRF at Barking Sands, the release says. JS MYOKO crew members detected and tracked the target. The Aegis Weapon System then developed a fire control solution and, at approximately 6:04 p.m., a Standard Missile-3 Block IA interceptor missile was launched. Approximately 3 minutes later, the SM-3 successfully intercepted the target some 100 miles above the Pacific Ocean.
JFTM-3 is a significant milestone in the growing cooperation between Japan and the U.S. in the area of missile defense, the release says.
The Myoko is the third of four Japanese ships to be upgraded with ballistic missile defense technology.
The second, the JS Chokai, participated in a test off Hawai‘i last November but an unidentified problem prevented its interceptor from shooting down the target. An investigation is ongoing.
The first Japanese attempt, from the JS Kongo in 2007, was successful.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
