Japan to Participate in the US "Golden Dome" Missile Defense Concept

According to Japanese media, the Japanese government has begun coordination and plans to announce its participation in the U.S.-led next-generation missile defense concept "Golden Dome" during the Japan-U.S. summit meeting in Washington this month. The two countries will cooperate in areas such as the joint development of intercept missiles and the construction of a satellite network, aiming to enhance their ability to counter weapons such as hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) being developed by neighboring countries.

According to multiple Japanese government sources, Prime Minister Hayashi will hold talks with President Trump at the White House on the 19th. This is Hayashi's first visit to the United States since becoming prime minister in October last year.

It is expected that during the talks, the defense concept planned by the Trump administration for deployment before January 2029 will be discussed, and Hayashi will formally announce Japan's participation.

The concept aims to protect the U.S. mainland from missile attacks by deploying interception devices in space, with the goal of intercepting hypersonic glide vehicles and drones traveling at speeds over 5 Machs developed by enemy countries. Japan plans to participate in this concept and apply the relevant technology to its own defense.

The Japan and U.S. governments are also advancing the joint development of a new missile for intercepting HGVs, called the "Glide Phase Interceptor," with the aim of completing the development in the 2030s. It is expected that both sides will also confirm the steady progress of the joint development during the talks.

The Japanese government plans to complete a "satellite constellation system" consisting of multiple small satellites operating in unison for intelligence collection by March 2028, which can continuously detect and track moving targets, and plans to begin launching them gradually from April this year. Japan hopes that through participation in the "Golden Dome" concept, it can further promote information sharing with the U.S. military via satellites.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1859513902696649/

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