Japan, US to co-produce next-generation anti-missile missiles

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, November 24, 2003

Japan, US to co-produce next-generation anti-missile missiles

Japan plans to co-produce the next generation of anti-missile missiles with the United States, a Japanese daily reported Monday.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Japan plans to co-produce the next generation of anti-missile missiles with the United States, a Japanese daily reported Monday.

The Asahi Shimbun said that the joint production of the missiles, now being studied with the United States for a US-proposed missile defense system, is designed to maintain and promote Japan's competitive edge in defense-industry technology.

The Japanese Defense Agency aims to clear hurdles for the production of the missiles for practical use within several years, with the start of production of key parts expected in several years, the newspaper said.

But the joint production could require a review of Japan's ban on exports of weapons, it said.

In 1967, Japan decided on a three-point policy against exports of weapons to communist states, nations to which weapon exports are banned under UN resolutions, and nations involved in conflictsor feared to be involved in conflicts.

The Japanese government banned exports of weapons to all nations in 1976, but changed its policy in 1983 to allow exports of military technology only to the United States.

The US-proposed missile defense system consists of a ground-to-air missile and a ship-to-air missile, and Japan has studied the development of the ship-to-air missile jointly with the United States since 1999.

The agency aims to make the ship-to-air missile more capable of hitting incoming ballistic missiles than the SM-3 missile it is toinstall on Aegis destroyers, the newspaper said.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Japan to Upgrade Aegis Destroyers with Missile Defense System

Japan Has an Axe to Grind: News Analysis

China slams AIT head's remarks on Taiwan issue ( 4 Messages)

Internet changes life in China: News focus ( 2 Messages)

2003, the first pageant year in China? ( 4 Messages)

US rushes to embrace strategy of "Iraqification" ( 4 Messages)

Traffic woes to ease with express thoroughfares ( 3 Messages)