[Strategerist]

PATRIOT PAC-3s are completely incapable of engaging an ICBM; they’d only be effective against a short to medium range missile, and in terminal defense (if the missile was fired at the specific site of the missile in Japan).

Aegis BMD is incapable of boost phase defense against an ICBM and again would only be effective against a missile that was at least approaching Japan so this is all a Japanese bluff, really, though I guess the story if fragmentary.

If it is in fact an orbital launch, or a longe range ICBM test, there’s nothing the Japanese can intercept the missile with.

[Strategerist]

Just to elaborate if it is an orbital launch or ICBM test, EVEN if the trajectory passes over Japan, the Japanese cannot intercept it.

[doorgunner69]

You seem to be up on the Aegis BMD capability. i am out of the loop these days.

That said, the Japanese are very good at improving on existing tech with indigenous ideas, as they have done with the F-15. I will be quite interested in what they might do to pee of the Norks.....................

[Ronin]

I am not too sure on that. We know what we have sold to Japan, but we don’t know what kind of improvements Japan has made to the stuff we have sold them, or all about the goodies they have worked up on their own.

Missile defense is a very serious Japanese defense bugaboo. They can also be very good at keeping secrets when they want to be.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Please note my most recent comments. It also appears, at least the North says, they are going to open this mid April “satellite” (BS, it is an ICBM test) launch up to international observers and some press. One wonders if it is just a marketing show for Iranian customers. We shall see. At any rate, one wonders if an AEGIS in international waters off the coast of North Korea (well off the coast, in the Western side in the Yellow sea), could hit this missile up on ascent from Pyongan Region, or if distance from AEGIS to missile would be problematic, and if that in and of itself would be viewed by North Korea as an act of war upon the DPRK.

[PapaBear3625]

If it is in fact an orbital launch, or a longe range ICBM test, there’s nothing the Japanese can intercept the missile with.

I think the Japs don't like losing face. I doubt they would make such a threat unless their technical people thought they could do it. It will be interesting to see what happens.

[MeganC]

Japan probably has its own interceptor missiles and they’re calling them ‘PAC-3’ just to help keep the things hidden in plain sight.