The Missile Defense Agency plans to deploy an advanced missile defense radar, the X-band radar system—to Japan within six months, according to top agency officials speaking at a budget briefing earlier this week. As part of last year’s military realignment agreements, the US and Japan agreed to station an X-band system in the Asian country to increase ballistic missile defenses for both countries. The $130 million radar will be linked with early warning missile defense satellites and the Aegis BMD system as well as Japan’s defense networks. The radar is currently at Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
Former AFCENT Commander Reflects on Lessons of Epic Fury
Sept. 13, 2026
Operation Epic Fury marked the U.S. military's largest air campaign in a generation, with strikes on 13,000 targets in Iran before the first in a series of shaky ceasefires began in April. Now, even as hostilities continue to flare up, Lt. Gen. Derek C. France sees several clear lessons that…


