Japan Plans to Spend $1,7 Bln on New US Missile Defense System

Japanese government is planning to spend $1,7 billion on a new US missile defense system in response to North Korea's missile launches, media reported on Sunday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the Japan News media outlet, Tokyo intends to install the improved Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air guided missiles produced by Lockheed Martin arms manufacturer, that will double the range to 30-40 kilometers as compared to currently deployed old PAC-3 missiles.

The government has also reportedly started negotiations on the introduction of the US state-of-the-art missile defense system, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD).

In September, North Korea launched three Rodong-1 ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan at a range about 1,000 kilometers, in the latest of a series of nuclear and missile tests by Pyongyang.