Japan: Advanced ballistic missile defense network goes into service

A new air defense network integrating Japan’s ballistic missile sensors and interception systems began operating Wednesday, upgrading the nation’s defense against ballistic missiles, the Air Self-Defense Force said.

The roughly 90.4 billion yen project, called the Japan Aerospace Defense Ground Environment, has replaced the Base Air Defense Ground Environment by upgrading the ASDF’s automatic air warning and control system, and features better ballistic missile defense, it said.

The original concept of the new system was to improve the ASDF’s capabilities to counter airborne attacks, such as by airplanes, but since the government decided to build a ballistic missile shield in 2003, antiballistic missile functions were added to the concept.

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