Japanese Self-Defense Forces are preparing for a test of their sea-based ballistic missile defense system in the week of Nov. 17, according to Kyodo News.
The test at the Pacific Missile Range near Hawaii will involve a Japanese ship fitted with a Lockheed Martin Corp. [LMT] Aegis weapons control and guidance system and a Raytheon Co. [RTN] Standard Missile-3 interceptor.
In that test, the Japanese Aegis destroyer Choukai will handle the first Japanese test of the U.S.-developed missile, they said.
The SM-3 missile attempts to kill an incoming enemy missile in space, and if unsuccessful, then Japan would marshal a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptor for a second attempt at a kill.