TOKYO - Japan plans to acquire two additional AEGIS-equipped destroyers. These destroyers will enhance Japan's missile defense capability. Japan is purchasing these destroyers due to North Korea's continued development of ballistic missiles.
Construction of the first warship will begin in Fiscal Year 2015 and the other in FY2016. Japan wants to increase its AEGIS-equipped fleet from the current six to eight in fiscal 2020.
Japan will spend about 150 billion yen on these destroyers. A Japanese shipyard will need five years to build a single destroyer.
Presently four of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's six AEGIS-equipped destroyers are equipped with the missile defense system.
Earlier this year, North Korea conducted a series of tests involving short- and mid-range ballistic missiles.
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