Posted on 05/06/2017 1:14:29 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Japan has accelerated a study examining if installing the Aegis Ashore anti-ballistic missile system would be an effective means of dealing with the increasing threat of a ballistic missile barrage from North Korea.
Japan has also looked into acquiring America's Terminal Hight Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system as an alternative to Aegis Ashore, but the increased coverage that Aegis Ashore provides would be more applicable to Japan's unique geographic and strategic needs. Also, Aegis Ashore can better interoperate with Japan's Aegis mid-course intercept capable destroyers, not to mention the fact that there is a high degree of commonality in sensors, launch components, weapons, and even operations between the two systems.
Cost is also an issue. Japan Times states that "THAAD costs about ¥125 billion ($1.1 billion) for each unit, and Japan would need around six units to protect the whole country. An Aegis Ashore unit costs about ¥80 billion and only two would be needed to cover the same amount of area." Aegis Ashore would provide Japan with a two-tiered land-based anti-ballistic missile defense strategy, with their PAC-3 Patriot batteries offering a last line of defense against short and intermediate range missile warheads as they fall through the atmosphere towards their targets during the terminal phase of their attack profile.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedrive.com ...
Some heavy duty offensive capability would not hurt.
Why does it seem like Israel has the only missile defense program that actually works?
Cause they take the right to exist much more seriously
Good for them, I say.
Iron dome was originally sourced from the Patriot missile system. Israel basically improved it themselves.
Without sharing the capabilities with their strongest ally?
That 4 billion a year we give i’m sure helped with improving it.
“Some heavy duty offensive capability would not hurt.”
You need offensive capability to go with it. You need to tell the enemy, “you fire something at us, not only are we going to stop it, but we are then taking our shot.”
It is reassuring to have a capable defense for missiles even though no system is 100%. Why play defense with this SOB in Norkland? Fatboy’s ability to do anything needs to be eliminated and then those poor people freed.
Take'em out!
Honestly we’re better off using THAAD as it’s designed to take out anything from a scud to an ICBM. The Chinese are pretty miffed about our deployment in Korea.
They should have collared their mutt in N.Korea. Now everyone in the neighborhood is going to arm up.
Aegis may be an easier solution since they have been operating versions of the ship based system for 20 years.
If Japan wants to survive they had better do a lot more than just deploy six onshore Aegis installations.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.