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.
The Space Force is facing a 14 percent cut to its civilian workforce due to the Trump administration’s broad push to shrink the number of civilians working for the defense establishment. Instead of anticipated growth in its workforce, the Space Force’s personnel have now shrunk significantly.