Japan’s second PAC-3 deployed near Tokyo

   Japan’s second ballistic missile interceptor Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) was deployed on November 29 at the Air Self-Defense Force Narashino Garrison in Chiba Prefecture, Tokyo’s neighboring prefecture.

   The first such system was deployed last March to the ASDF Iruma Base in Saitama Pref. The Defense Ministry is planning to deploy more PAC-3s by the end of next March to ASDF garrisons at Takeyama (Kanagawa Pref.) and Kasumigaura (Ibaraki Pref.), all in the Kanto region surrounding Tokyo.

   At the Narashino base, PAC-3 launchers were delivered before dawn on November 29 without notice. Other components such as radar and control systems will be brought to the base by next January.

   In protest against the PAC-3 deployment, Japanese Communist Party members of the Chiba Prefectural Assembly and Funabashi, Narashino, and Yachiyo city assemblies as well as representatives of the Japan Peace Committee later in the day visited the Narashino base and handed to base officials a letter of protest addressed to Defense Minister Ishiba Shigeru demanding the immediate removal of the system.
- Akahata, December 1, 2007