Japan, US set for joint missile-defense test

A Japanese naval destroyer fitted with a Lockheed Martin Corp Aegis ballistic missile defense system is set to carry out a flight-intercept test Thursday in cooperation with U.S. forces, the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency said.

The test, in Hawaiian waters, will focus attention on growing U.S. missile-defense cooperation with Japan even as Washington urges its NATO allies to join in a NATO-wide shield prompted largely by concerns over Iran.

Missile defense is a multibillion-dollar business for Pentagon contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing Co, Northrop Grumman Corp, Raytheon Co and Orbital Sciences Corp.

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