DATE=8/13/1999 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=JAPAN / DEFENSE (L-ONLY) NUMBER=2-252777 BYLINE=JIM RANDLE DATELINE=PENTAGON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-S Officials say Japan and the United States will formally agree to begin a missile defense research program Monday. V-O-A's Jim Randle reports, the program will focus largely on improving the missile intended to destroy deadly warheads aimed at Japan. TEXT: The joint U-S/Japanese research program is designed to expand the powerful air defenses now found aboard the most advanced U-S designed warships, so it will also offer protection from faster, higher flying missiles. The "Aegis" system uses a radar that can almost instantly scan wide parts of the sky, and powerful computers to keep track of numerous fast moving targets. Japan already owns a number of Aegis- equipped ships that could form the backbone of a missile defense system. A U-S Official, who asked not to be named, said the new research program will focus mostly on the interceptor missile that is supposed to track, strike and destroy the attacking warheads loaded with nuclear, germ or chemical weapons. Experts say it is a very difficult task, much like hitting a bullet with another bullet. To do that, scientists and engineers hope to improve the interceptor's sensors and warhead so it can better "see" and destroy its target. They also plan improvements to the weapon's second-stage propulsion system to make it faster and more likely to catch its prey. Analysts say Japan was reluctant to join the research program, until North Korea fired a ballistic missile across Japan and out into the Pacific last year. Tokyo agreed to greatly increase the size of the difficult research program recently, as North Korea said it was getting reach to test another, even more powerful weapon. The five-year, half-billion-dollar research program begins as Japan is steadily improving its military forces. Tokyo strengthened military ties with the United States last year, and asserted its right to defend itself in a recent government report. It also plans to develop its own spy satellite system. A U-S Official says Tokyo plans to build and deploy at least four satellites, including two that use photography and two others that use special radar to peer through clouds. Some of these satellites will be able to see objects as small as one meter across, and are intended to give Tokyo advance warning of military developments that could threaten Japan. (Signed) NEB/JR/AG/WTW 13-Aug-1999 14:57 PM EDT (13-Aug-1999 1857 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
