Thursday, May 6, 2004
Japan, US to jointly test missile interceptors in 2005
Indo-Asian News Service Tokyo, May 6
Japan and the US will conduct the first joint flight test of sea-based missile interceptors by the middle of 2005, Xinhua reports.
Japan plans to purchase the ground-based PAC-3 and sea-based SM-3 anti-ballistic missile systems from the US. The deal is expected to run into several billions of dollars.
The test would be conducted off Hawaii, Kyodo news agency quoted US Defence Department sources as saying.
During the test-flight the missile will carry jointly developed infrared sensor, propulsion equipment for the second part of the three-stage interceptor missile, a warhead and a nose cone to protect the sensor and warhead.
© Hindustan Times Ltd. 2004.