US-Japan cooperate to develop new missile defense radar system

(Baonghean.vn)- On May 23, government and defense industry sources in Tokyo said that the US companies Raytheon and Lockheed Martin are cooperating with Japanese partners in projects to develop new radar systems, aiming to strengthen Japan's defense capabilities against North Korean missile attacks.

US-Japan cooperate to develop new missile defense radar system. Photo: Reuters

Specifically, Raytheon is cooperating with Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, while Lockheed Corporation is cooperating with Fujitsu Corporation in the above project. The purpose of the project is to expand the range of Japan's maritime search and targeting radar system. Some other sources said: "Japan wants the Aegis Ashore missile defense system to be operational by 2023 at the latest."

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Japan's Defense Ministry said Tokyo currently has no specific plans for cooperation with Washington on the Aegis radar system.

The Aegis defense system is equipped on warships in Japanese waters. Photo: AP

Earlier, other sources said that in the context of North Korea, a nuclear-armed country, building increasingly sophisticated missiles capable of hitting any target in Japan, Tokyo is likely to invest in a land-based version of the Aegis defense system equipped on warships in Japanese waters.

Japan hopes to make a final decision on the deployment of the Aegis Ashore system this year. It is also considering the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system./.

Lan Ha

(According to Reuters)