Japan decides to set Aegis Ashore adrift
Defence Minister Taro Kono suddenly announced on 15 June that Japan would discontinue its acquisition of Aegis Ashore. Boosters falling onto residential areas, after separating from SM-3 missiles, could be a serious problem if Japan introduced the ballistic missile defence (BMD) system.
Indeed, Kono explained that the reason for cancelling was the money required and the time needed to improve the hardware to prevent such incidents.
Regardless, introduction of Aegis Ashore had caused Japan various problems from the start, and it was already delayed. Japan’s MoD originally planned to deploy it at Japan Ground Self-Defense Force training grounds at
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