SPOTLIGHT
VOLUME V • ISSUE 1

THE SPEAR AND SHIELD:

Building International Cooperation Against
the Ballistic Missile Threat

The U.S.-Japan alliance and how the Standard Missile-3 Cooperative Development Program will improve international ballistic missile defense capabilities.

When North Korea fired seven missiles into the Sea of Japan in July 2006, the world held its collective breath and awaited the allied response. The missiles, while landing in open waters, were just 550 kilometers west of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidõ. The North Koreans, as expected, publicly minimized the shots, calling them part of “regular military drills to strengthen self-defense.” Yet the short-range No-Dong-2, Scud and long-range Taep’o-Dong-2s were clearly ominous.

Two days later, the U.S. deployed the USS Mustin, a guided missile destroyer, to the Japanese port of Yokosuka, home of the U.S. Navy’s powerful Seventh Fleet. Japan responded to the North Korean provocation with a series of economic sanctions. Japan’s agriculture minister, Shoichi Nakagawa, announced that Japan would not provide food aid to North Korea, and that agricultural trade restrictions between the two countries would be reconsidered. North Korean officials, ship crews and charter flights were banned from Japan, and the only direct passenger link between the two countries was severed. North Korea had gotten the world’s attention. Yet, they may have miscalculated its resolve.

Such resolve became much clearer less than 18 months later. The Japanese destroyer, JDS Kongo, was on station in the Pacific Ocean in waters just off the coast of Hawaii. A ballistic missile target was suddenly launched 100 miles above the ocean in space. The Kongo, poised to attack, responded in kind. A Standard Missile-3 ballistic missile interceptor was launched from Kongo’s deck. As the SM-3 slammed into the target in space, obliterating it on impact, the North Koreans began to get a more complete response to their actions.

The Japanese Defense Minister at the time, Shigeru Ishiba, described the successful test as “extremely significant,” making Japan the first U.S. ally to intercept a target using the SM-3. Such cooperation, which Japanese Rear Adm. Tomohisa Takei calls “the Spear and Shield,” carries a distinct and common purpose: To erect a shield against a possible North Korean attack.

“The high readiness of our ballistic missile defense capabilities, and the high readiness of the Japan-U.S. alliance, are not only deterrent powers against the ballistic missile threat, they are contributors to the overall peace and stability of the region,” says Rear Adm. Takei, Director General of the Operations and Plans Department in the Maritime Staff Office of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). “Japan understands it must continue to improve its ballistic missile defense capabilities.”

Rear Adm. Takei also understands both the international threat posed by North Korea’s menacing missiles, and the growing set of capabilities that can be leveraged in response. A graduate of Japan’s National Defense Academy in 1979, he studied as well at the U.S. Naval War College and Tsukuba University, where he earned a master’s degree in International Politics. A former captain of the Japanese destroyer Ishikari, and commander of Japan’s 1st Escort Division, he has served both on the high seas and in the halls of the Maritime Staff Office.

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Rear Adm. Takei spoke to the Defender recently, to assess both the challenges and countermeasures available to the allies in the face of the looming ballistic missile threat in the north Asian region. Here’s what he had to say.

Defender: Please assess the evolving ballistic missile threat to Japan from North Korea’s firing missiles over the nation beginning in 1998.

Rear Adm. Takei: In 1998, ballistic missiles launched from North Korea flew over Japan and fell into the Pacific Ocean. Then in 2006, North Korea launched seven ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan. After that, information concerning missiles launched by North Korea has been made public even in civil information journals. Since the intention of North Korea is unknown, Japan is faced with a distinct ballistic missile threat. Our nation has decided to equip itself with ballistic missile defense systems as our only means to protect ourselves and provide a sense of security to the people of Japan.

“Technology cooperation between Japan and the U.S. is sure to improve the security of Japan. The high readiness of our BMD capabilities, and the high readiness of the Japan-U.S. alliance ... are contributors to the overall peace and stability of the region.”

Defender: How important is the U.S.-Japan strategic alliance in the global effort to deter and, if necessary, defend against a ballistic missile attack?

Rear Adm. Takei: The operation of a ballistic missile defense (BMD) capability in Japan is jointly conducted by Japan and the United States. Based on the Japan-U.S. alliance, the deployment of U.S. BMD assets and capabilities, such as the AN/TPY-2 radar, is under way. Technology cooperation between Japan and the U.S. is sure to improve the security of Japan. The high readiness of our BMD capabilities, and the high readiness of the Japan-U.S. alliance — which is referred to metaphorically as the “Spear and Shield” — are not only deterrent powers against the ballistic missile threat, they are contributors to the overall peace and stability of the region.

Defender: The U.S. Navy has developed a new maritime strategy that stresses international cooperation. As one of the strongest U.S. allies, how do you envision Japan’s acquisition of a sea-based ballistic missile defense capability as a stabilizing effect on the Pacific Rim?

Rear Adm. Takei: The efforts to improve Japanese sea-based BMD capabilities will spin off to help ensure peace and stability in the areas surrounding Japan. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will accelerate our cooperative relationship with the U.S. in the operational stage. It will also reinforce interoperability between the JMSDF and the U.S. Navy. The evolvement of the Japan-U.S. alliance in the past and the future will contribute not only to the security of Japan, but to peace and stability in the greater Asia-Pacific region.

Defender: Describe Japan’s overall commitment to ballistic missile defense.

Rear Adm. Takei: Japan understands it must continue to improve its ballistic missile defense capabilities. Development of our ballistic missile defense is making steady progress. For the time being, Japan will advance the development of the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA. Yet, BMD involves the total operation, ranging from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to the end-game. Most people are interested in the missiles and platforms for BMD. In the widest sense, we can also say that the Proliferation Security Initiative, to prevent the trafficking and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, is also a part of our BMD capability. Accordingly, Japan should improve its capabilities in terms of early warning sensors and C4I.

Defender: Japan’s Kongo-class guided missile destroyers have been equipped with BMD capabilities. Has any consideration been given to upgrading the Atago-class destroyers with a ballistic missile defense capability?

Rear Adm. Takei: In the Mid-term Defense Program (FY2005-2009), the Government of Japan has stated that “Japan will study the course of capability improvement for FY2008 and, after taking into consideration the status of BMD technology development in the U.S., take necessary measures.” The more naval destroyers with BMD capabilities that Japan has, the higher our readiness will be, which will enable us to ensure the flexibility of operation. Japan will continue to study the course of capability improvement, including modification of the Atago-class destroyers, taking into consideration the status of system development in the U.S., the changes in the security environment surrounding Japan, and our nation’s fiscal circumstances.

Defender: How important was the Japan Flight Test Mission-1 (JFTM-1), which marked Japan’s first intercept of a ballistic missile target using the SM-3?

Rear Adm. Takei: The JMSDF understands the importance that Japan and the United States place on opportunities to test advanced capabilities. In the Japan Flight Test Mission-1, we launched a Standard Missile-3 in a Ship Qualification Trial, or SQT, to check to see if our destroyers with newly added BMD capabilities could exercise those capabilities effectively as expected. The items checked were the performance of the modified systems, the skill level of the crew members, and the integration of the total system including the missiles. The JMSDF likes to place emphasis on such basic items as the SQT.

“The defense industry in Japan is making substantial efforts to support the SM-3 Cooperative Development Program.”

Defender: The U.S. has encouraged industrial participation with its friends and allies for missile defense. The Standard Missile-3 Cooperative Development Program is a joint Japan-U.S. effort. How is Japanese industry contributing to the effort?

Rear Adm. Takei: The defense industry in Japan is making substantial efforts to support the SM-3 Cooperative Development Program. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has entered into a contract with the government of Japan to be the prime contractor. Approximately 20 to 30 domestic industries in Japan, related to BMD, also are involved in the project. Generally speaking, it is expected that the Japanese defense industry’s commitment to Japan-U.S. cooperative research and development of advanced technology will stimulate the intellectual curiosity of our technicians, motivate them to develop state-of-the-art technology, and improve the reliability of the Japan-U.S. alliance. The SM-3 Cooperative Development Program is a manifest example of this. Cooperative development has already produced more fruit than expected. It is my hope that Japan and the U.S. will expand such cooperation to other fields in the future.

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