Yoshinori Ono

"The time has come to move to the development phase," Ono said. "I would like to have arrangements within the government made swiftly and submit the budget request for fiscal 2006."

The project is being undertaken jointly with the United States.

The cost for the first fiscal year, which begins April 1, 2006, is expected to amount to several billion yen, he said.

Ono confirmed reports that Japan and the United States will jointly carry out the first missile interception test for the sea-based Standard Missile-3 system next March in Hawaii.

The nation's involvement in the joint research and its decision to acquire a missile defense system are sensitive issues given the pacifist Constitution, which renounces war and the possession of any potential for attack.

The Japan Times Weekly: June 11, 2005
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