MEDIA RELEASE PR41977
Japanese Missile Intercept Sends Message to North Korea
BARKING SANDS, Kauai, Hawaii, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
Riki Ellison, Founder and Chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy
results of the successful Japanese missile intercept from the JS Kirishima
off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii and its significance. Ellison is one of the
top foremost lay experts in the field of missile defense in the world. His
comments include the following:
"Against the back drop of the Kauai Eternal Veteran Memorial & Missile
Defense Viewing site at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Barking Sands,
Hawaii, a three-stage medium-range target missile holding a warhead, which
contained a few hundred pounds of explosives, shot brilliantly across the
Hawaiian sky. The target missile traveled west rising up to 130 miles up in
space with a maximum distance of approximately 900 miles."
"A few hundred miles west of Kauai, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
(JMSDF) destroyer JS Kirishima (DDG-174) patrolled the waters defending an
area of ocean another few hundred miles further west. The JS Kirishima is one
of only four Japanese KongÅ class destroyers equipped with Aegis Ballistic
Missile Defense (Aegis BMD)."
"Without assistance, the Japanese crew of the JS Kirishima tracked the
speeding target with the ship's AN/SPY-1 radar and processed a firing
solution to intercept the incoming missile. Once a firing solution had been
achieved, the combat systems crew of the JS Kirishima launched a U.S. made
Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1A missile at the target."
"The three-stage SM-3 Block 1A missile screamed towards the target at
close to 3km/s, locating and completely destroying the medium-range target
missile. The missile's kill vehicle slammed into the target with a combined
closing velocity of approximately twenty times the speed of sound, close to
130 miles up in space. Impact and destruction of the target missile happened
three minutes (5:09PM HST / 11:09PM EST) after the target missile launch
(5:06PM HST / 11:06PM EST)."
"This exercise clearly orchestrated the geometry and physics of a
successful and realistic demonstration of Japan's Kongo Class destroyer's
ability to defend the homeland and population of Japan from a medium-range
ballistic missile launched by North Korea."
"The JS Kirishima will soon join her three other Aegis BMD equipped
sister ships (JS Kongo, JS Chokai and JS Myoko) who have all been outfitted
in Hawaii and tested there annually over the past 4 years. These ships will
be patrolling the waters between Japan and North Korea offering substantial
24/7 protection to their country against ballistic missile threats from North
Korea. The allied force of the JMSDF combined with U.S. Aegis BMD ships from
the Navy's 7th Fleet, which currently patrol the international waters between
Japan and North Korea, provide a formidable deterrent for the protection of
Japan and U.S. forces located there."
"South Korea and Australia watched this test with keen interest. They are
two additional Pacific Rim U.S. allies that are interested in building BMD
ship capabilities for similar reasons of deterrence and homeland protection.
Australia would also use the BMD capability to protect its troops deployed
away from home."
"It is of note that this week Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited
Hawaii and Admiral Robert Willard, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command
headquartered in Hawaii, will have missile defense as an additional tool of
deterrence for the U.S. diplomatic efforts in stabilizing the Far East region
during a presumed upcoming transition of leadership and power in North
Korea."
"Our nation and world are safer with allies and friends such as Japan who
have missile defense capabilities and are capable of sharing the cost and
responsibility."
SOURCE: Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance
NOTE TO EDITORS: Riki Ellison is available for on the record interviews.
Contact Barbara Maxwell at 703-299-0060 to schedule.
CONTACT: Barbara Maxwell of MDAA, +1-703-299-0060
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