US, Japan Agree To Timely Deployment Of Aegis Missile System - State Dept.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th April, 2019) Top US and Japanese officials agreed on a timely deployment of the Aegis Ashore missile system in Japan, the State Department said in a press release on Friday.

"The Ministers determined to bolster capability and enhance their respective integrated defense for both air and missile threats, including through the timely and smooth deployment of Japan's Aegis Ashore," the release said after bilateral talks in Washington.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan met with their Japanese counterparts in Washington on Friday for bilateral talks on shared interests.

Both sides also discussed the significance of enhancing the US-Japan Alliance's capabilities through the introduction of advanced weapon systems to Japan such as F-35, E-2D, V-22 and the stand-off missiles, the release said.

Moreover, the release said the United States highlighted Japan's decision to utilize a multi-year budgeting process to purchase nine E-2D aircraft.