Home / International / World Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
Japan test fires ballistic missile off Hawaii
Adjust font size:

Japan successfully intercepted a mock ballistic missile off Hawaii in a test fire shortly after local time Monday noon, Japanese Defense Ministry officials said Tuesday.

 

The test of the Standard Missile 3, which was launched by a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) destroyer in the Pacific Ocean, was the first by a country other than the United States.

 

With the help of the US Navy, which launched a mid-range ballistic missile from its military base in the Pacific, the Aegis-equipped Kongou of the MSDF several hundred kilometers away detected it and fired an SM-3 to intercept it at an altitude of more than 100 kilometers at around 7:12 a.m. Japan time Monday.

 

Kyodo News quoted experts as saying that the success marks an important progress in Japan's construction of its missile shield. They also expressed concern over the breaking up of military balance in the region.

 

Japan originally planned to conduct the test-fire in March 2008, but has accelerated its preparation and moved the project forward.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2007)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Comment
Pet Name
Anonymous
China Archives
Related >>
- Japan to Spend US$1 Bln on Missile Defense System
- Japan to Speed Up Joint Missile Shield with US
- Japan Nuclear Arms Debate Will Test Public Opinion
- Missile System Affects China's Security
Most Viewed >>
> Korean Nuclear Talks
> Reconstruction of Iraq
> Middle East Peace Process
> Iran Nuclear Issue
> 6th SCO Summit Meeting
Links
- China Development Gateway
- Foreign Ministry
- Network of East Asian Think-Tanks
- China-EU Association
- China-Africa Business Council
- China Foreign Affairs University
- University of International Relations
- Institute of World Economics & Politics
- Institute of Russian, East European & Central Asian Studies
- Institute of West Asian & African Studies
- Institute of Latin American Studies
- Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies
- Institute of Japanese Studies