Japan MSDF succeeds in intercepting mock ballistic missile+

TOKYO, Oct. 29 Kyodo -
Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force has successfully intercepted a mock
ballistic missile with a Standard Missile-3 interceptor launched from a
destroyer equipped with the sophisticated Aegis air defense system in waters
off Hawaii's Kauai Island, the Defense Ministry said Friday.
The 7,250-ton destroyer Kirishima fired the SM-3 interceptor after the mock
missile was launched from a U.S. naval facility shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday
(Friday noon Japan time), the ministry said.
About 3 minutes after the target missile was launched, the interceptor hit it
outside the earth's atmosphere, it said.
The destroyer was not notified of the launch time of the target missile, just
as in the previous two rounds of test conducted in November 2008 and October
2009.
The latest test cost the government about 6.7 billion yen, officials said.
This was the fourth test of SM-3 interceptors. Japan conducted its first
successful SM-3 test in December 2007 using another Aegis-equipped destroyer.
The second test conducted in October 2009 failed when the interceptor lost
track of the target due to trouble in the attitude and track control system in
the interceptor's warhead.
Under Japan's missile defense program, the MSDF's sea-launched SM-3 will be
used to intercept a ballistic missile outside the earth's atmosphere. If it
misses the target, a ground-launched Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile of
the Air Self-Defense Force will be used to shoot down the missile as it
reenters the atmosphere.
The ASDF has so far been successful in intercepting targets with PAC-3
interceptors in two rounds of test.
==Kyodo