Japan Halts Plans To Deploy Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System Citing Costs, Technical Issues, And Local Opposition

The main control center at the U.S. military's Aegis Ashore missile defense test complex in Kauai, Hawaii. Japan's Aegis Ashore sites are expected to be of a similar design, but with Lockheed Martin's Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) instead of the AN/SPY-1 seen here. Kyodo via AP Images

Warzone/The Drive: Japan Halts Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Plans Indefinitely Amid Public Opposition

Technical issues and concerns about cost, coupled with public outcries and embarrassing blunders have hampered the project.

Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono has publicly announced a decision to suspend the establishment of two Aegis Ashore missile defense systems in the country indefinitely. Kono cited technical issues and rising costs as the main factors, but there has been significant domestic opposition to the program, which already forced Japanese authorities to abandon plans to deploy one of the missile defense systems at a site in the country's northeastern Akita Prefecture.

Japan's top defense official informed members of the press about the shift in the country's missile defense plans on June 15, 2020. Kono said he had told Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about the decision on June 12. The Japanese government finalized their initial plans to set up the two Aegis Ashore sites back in December 2017. The U.S. government formally approved the sale of the missile defense systems, as well as ancillary items and support services, a complete package valued at around $2.15 billion, in January 2019. Japan had already pushed back the date it hoped to have both Aegis Ashore systems up and running from 2023 to 2025.

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More News On Japan Halting Plans To Deploy The Aegis Ashore Missile Defense

Japan to scrap costly land-based US missile defense system -- AP
Japan halts deployment of Aegis Ashore missile defence system -- Reuters
Japan's Defense Minister Says He Has Halted Deployment of Aegis Ashore System -- New York Times
Japan Halts Plan for $5 Billion Lockheed Missile Defense System -- Bloomberg
Japan Backing Away From Aegis Ashore -- USNI News
Japan Drops Plan to Deploy US Missile System -- VOA
Japan suspends Aegis missile defence system deployment -- New Straits Times
Japan halts plans to deploy Aegis Ashore missile shield, citing costs & technical issues -- RT