10/28/2009 - "Samurai"
Dear
Members and Friends,
Against the early evening clear sky off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii the Japanese
Kongo class destroyer, JS Myoko detected, tracked, and launched an SM-3 Block
1A missile, obliterating a target ballistic missile, unequivocally
demonstrating their capability to destroy any currently deployed North Korean
ballistic missiles threatening the people of Japan. This milestone event marks
the debut of the third Japanese Kongo Class Destroyer with ballistic missile
defense capability that will patrol and defend the seas surrounding Japan
against the threat from North Korea to their homeland. Having three
Aegis-equipped ships with ballistic missile defense capability allows the
defensive forces of Japan to patrol and protect the people of Japan,
continuously 24 hours a day and seven days a
week.
CLICK HERE TO SEE BREAKING
VIDEO AND PHOTOS OF THE TEST
This also marks the first successful Aegis missile defense intercept of
President Obama's "new missile defense architecture" announced on
September 16th of this year. The cooperative efforts with the Japanese
government on the Aegis missile defense system are a major emphasis on the
President's new missile defense plan. The Japanese are full and equal
co-developers of the SM-3 Block 2 missile, which is the highly-preferred, 'end
all' defensive missile, by the Department of Defense that will defend Europe
and the US homeland under this Administration's promise to defend our nation
against Iran by 2020.
Like their legendary ancestral forefathers, the Samurai warriors, the Imperial
Japanese Navy officers and sailors showed incredible precision to strike down
cleanly and exactly an incoming threat, once again proving their ability to
protect their sacred homeland. The manner in which they performed brought much
honor to the crew of JS Myoko in showing their ability to uphold the first line
of defense of their country.
Ganbatte to our Japanese friends.
Respectfully,
Riki