Japan, U.S. to Test Missile System off Hawaiian Coast

HONOLULU – Japanese and U.S. warships are set to test a missile defense system off Kauai.

The test is one of several in recent years on a U.S. ballistic missile defense system. It is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon or early evening.

It was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but was moved up due to weather concerns.

The Japanese destroyer JS Myoko is to track and destroy a missile fired from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands in Kauai using the Aegis missile-defense system.

During the test, the USS Paul Hamilton and USS Lake Erie will detect and track the target as a training exercise. Both ships are stationed at Pearl Harbor.

The first test of a Japanese Navy vessel equipped with the Aegis was late 2007.