The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has successfully completed Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) deployment training at US Marine Corps (USMC) Air Station Iwakuni in Japan.
The training was conducted to demonstrate the JASDF’s ability to rapidly deploy multiple defence assets to the US military installations across Japan.
It was intended to strengthen the US-Japan defence cooperation in order to allow tactical units to improve interoperability while strengthening long-standing military partnerships.
US Marine Corps MCAS Iwakuni operations officer lieutenant colonel Robert Vuolo said: “Both countries have robust ballistic-missile capabilities and the ability to perform this mission.
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“However, there is a tremendous amount of value for us to move those parts around, deploy and redeploy our forces and their forces to respond to any contingency.
"It adds flexibility to the US-Japan alliance and the ability for us to work together in meeting our joint mission of providing security to both of our countries and the region.”
The PAC-3 surface-to-air missile defence system has been designed to protect ground forces and critical assets from advanced aircraft to cruise missiles and tactical-ballistic missiles.
It provides a highly reactive hit-to-kill capability in both range and altitude while operating in all environments, according to a statement by the USMC.
Prior to deploying the PAC-3, AN / MPQ-65 radar set and Antenna Mast Group, JASDF service members convoyed onto the air station.
The USMC said it conducts many exercises with its partners in the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
Image: PAC-3 surface-to-air missile defence system. Photo: courtesy of corporal Aaron Henson via US Marine Corps.
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