The Japan Times:
Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force will conduct nationwide drills to improve the readiness of its ballistic missile defense and allay public concerns over North Korea’s continued test-firing of missiles, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
The exercises to mobilize and swiftly set up Patriot Advanced Capability-3 surface-to-air guided interceptors will start Thursday involving 4th Air Defense Missile Group members based in Gifu Prefecture. They will practice deploying the system to the Komaki Air Base in neighboring Aichi Prefecture.
“It is extremely important to improve tactical skills in dealing with ballistic missiles amid the increasing severity of the security environment surrounding our country,” Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said at a news conference. “We also think it will help the public feel safe and secure.”
The ASDF has conducted such exercises regularly without making public announcements, according to ministry officials. But the ministry decided to announce the exercise time to bring a sense of reassurance, one official said.
Under the current multitier ballistic missile defense arrangements, Maritime Self-Defense Force Aegis destroyers equipped with Standard Missile-3 interceptors are intended to intercept missiles in the outer atmosphere. If they fail, the PAC-3 interceptors will be ready to shoot down the missiles…
