TOKYO – On Oct. 28, the Ground and Air Self-Defense Forces said the GSDF’s Type 03 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (Chu-SAM) unit and the ASDF’s Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC 3) unit had conducted their first joint firing exercises at McGregor Range in New Mexico (U.S.) on Oct. 24. GSDF and ASDF units deployed to Okinawa also participated in the exercises.

At a press conference held on Oct. 28, GSDF Chief of Staff Yoshida Yoshihide underscored, “We successfully enhanced our comprehensive missile air defense capabilities.” ASDF Chief of Staff Izutsu Shunji also mentioned the significance of the exercises, saying, “We were able to improve the effectiveness of our comprehensive missile air defense and our GSDF-ASDF joint response capabilities.”