The Japanese government is set to express willingness to participate in the United States' next-generation missile defense system, known as the Golden Dome, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi likely conveying this stance to President Donald Trump at their summit next week. The system is slated to begin operations before January 2029, and Japan hopes it will also enhance its own defenses.
The Japanese government plans to inform the United States of its interest in joining the Golden Dome missile defense system during an upcoming summit in Washington. This meeting, set for Thursday at the White House, marks Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's first visit to the U.S. since taking office in October.
The Golden Dome system involves deploying space-based interceptors to shield the continental United States from missile attacks. It is designed to neutralize drones and hypersonic glide vehicles traveling at over five times the speed of sound, addressing threats developed by China and Russia. Japanese officials view participation as a way to bolster their own national defense.
The two nations are already collaborating on the joint development of glide phase interceptors, a new missile type aimed at countering hypersonic glide vehicles, with completion targeted for the 2030s. At the summit, leaders are expected to reaffirm steady progress on this initiative.
Separately, Japan intends to establish a satellite constellation—a network of small satellites working in tandem—by the end of March 2028, with launches beginning in April. This setup will enable continuous detection and tracking of moving targets, facilitating greater information sharing with the U.S. military.
