Japan US missile defense system or merger? Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama voiced opposition to missiles | Japan | merger
Image from former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Xinhua News Agency
On August 13th local time, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama announced on social media platform X that Japan and the United States will reach an agreement on jointly developing new missiles at the Japan US summit held on August 18th. Japan's missile defense system will be integrated into the United States' missile defense system under the name of "comprehensive air defense missile defense.".
Yukio Hatoyama pointed out that when Japan's missile defense system was integrated into the United States' missile defense system, in other words, the enemy of the United States became the enemy of Japan. "Is it possible to merge with the United States to this extent? We must restore a more independent Japan," Yukio Hatoyama wrote.
According to a report by Kyodo News Agency on August 14th, several Japanese government officials have revealed that the governments of Japan and the United States have basically decided to jointly develop new missiles for intercepting hypersonic weapons. On the 18th of this month, the leaders of Japan and the United States will hold talks, and both sides are currently coordinating on the relevant consensus reached by the two leaders during the talks.
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According to previous reports from Japanese media, the interception missile jointly developed by the United States and Japan can intercept during the gliding phase of hypersonic weapons, making it unable to descend to flight heights that existing defense systems cannot cope with. The interceptor needs to fly at high speed for long distances and has the ability to respond to changes in the trajectory of hypersonic gliding warheads.
According to the report, if this research project is implemented, the new destroyer of the Maritime Self Defense Force equipped with the Aegis combat system will be equipped with this new missile that can intercept hypersonic missiles. It is reported that the first destroyer will enter naval service in the spring of 2027, and the second will be installed before the spring of 2028.