Japanese interceptor nosecones!

[Taro Toporific]

Report: Japan to design nosecone for missile in joint defence plan with U.S.Sept 22. 2005 / TOKYO (AP) --- Japan is ready to design a nosecone for an interceptor missile in a joint project with the U.S. to develop a ballistic missile defence system...The project involves a larger and upgraded version of the Standard Missile-3 interceptor ..Japan has developed new "clamshell" technology, which makes the nosecone split into two in the air and break off from the interceptor...more...

[Mulboyne]

UPI: Japan's passion for BMD

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is due to step down in a few months after five confident, controversial years at the helm of the world's second-ranking industrial power, but he will leave ballistic missile defense juggernaut behind him. Hardly a week now goes past without some isolated, usually little-remarked upon item that heralds another enormous stride in fulfilling his guiding vision of a gigantic, long-lasting new high-tech partnership with the United States to develop a world class BMD shield for his nation. On Thursday, U.S. Army secretary Francis J. Harvey discussed progress in BMD cooperation with Japanese officials in Tokyo. Earlier this month, a senior Boeing executive told a group of Washington reporters who specialize in covering BMD issues that the Japanese government is extremely interested in studying the Missile Defense Agency's controversial Airborne Laser, or ABL anti-ballistic missile system, for which Boeing is the prime contractor...more...