American Action Forum:
Summary
- The United States and Japan have jointly researched, developed, and produced missile defense systems.
- These programs help ensure the security of the Japanese homeland and U.S. troops stationed there.
- Cooperation and collaboration in defense technology can also help the United States make the most of its defense budget by sharing costs with close allies.
Introduction
The United States and Japan share an alliance that is integral to the national security of both countries. Japan and America share a similar geopolitical advantage: they are both bordered by water. In Japan’s case, however, the water does not separate the country from its unfriendly neighbors by much—and new weapons technologies are bringing threats very close to the Japanese homeland.
The proliferation of increasingly longer-range ballistic missiles in the Asia-Pacific region poses a serious threat to both Japan and the United States. North Korea has a proven arsenal of hundreds of ballistic missiles. Many of these missiles are capable of reaching Japan and threaten American military bases there.
In response to this threat, the United States has invested heavily in ballistic missile defense (BMD) to protect U.S. forces and allies in the region. One strategy the U.S. government has used to pursue BMD programs is close defense technology cooperation with Japan. This includes joint research, co-development, and co-production of weapons systems.
