The Japanese Defense Agency is considering to build a joint facility for maintenance of the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptor system with the United States in southern Nagasaki Prefecture, Kyodo News reported on Monday.

This is the first revelation of a plan for a weaponry-related joint facility, the report said.

Japanese defense agency officials described advanced facility and technology to inspect and maintain the new SM-3 as necessary due to the complexity of the device.

Launching SM-3 missiles is the first choice in the two-stage interception method of the joint anti-ballistic missile defense system drawn up by Japan and the United States, followed by the land-to-air missiles of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptor system.

The United States plans to upgrade four of its Aegis warships deployed in Japan and equip them with the SM-3 interceptor system, bringing the total number of SM-3-equipped warships in Japan to five.

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force is also planing to install the SM-3 system on its destroyer Kongou by the end of 2007 and on three other Aegis ships by the end of fiscal 2010, according to Kyodo.

Source: Xinhua