Japan Air Defense Forces Conduct PAC-3 Missile Deployment Training

The Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces has conducted Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) deployment training at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 29, 2017.

“We conduct many exercises with our partners in the Japan Self-Defense Forces,” U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Robert Vuolo, the MCAS Iwakuni operations officer was quoted as saying by DVIDS Wednesday.

“MCAS Iwakuni being a hub in the region and a strategic location for the Marine Corps makes this a natural choice of locations, and we want to prove that we can work together. . . It improves our interoperability due to the speed that we can bring them onto the installation, set them up in a position they can operate from and be ready to utilize their systems.”

The training enhances defense cooperation between the U.S. and Japan, enabling tactical units to improve interoperability while strengthening long-standing military partnerships.

PAC-3 protects ground forces and critical assets at all echelons from advanced aircraft to cruise missiles and tactical-ballistic missiles. During the training, JASDF service members convoyed onto the air station before deploying the PAC-3, AN/MPQ-65 radar set and Antenna Mast Group.

PAC-3 is a surface-to-air missile defense system, which provides a highly reactive hit-to-kill capability in both range and altitude while operating in all environments.