Additional U.S. Missile Destroyer Arrives in Yokosuka

May 23, 2018

Yokosuka, Kanagawa Pref.- The Aegis destroyer USS Milius capable of intercepting ballistic missiles arrived at the U.S. Navy's Yokosuka base in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, on Tuesday.

The deployment is aimed at strengthening the U.S. capabilities to deal with possible North Korean missile launches.

The number of warships at the base has thus increased to 13, including seven vessels capable of destroying ballistic missiles, according to the Navy's 7th Fleet, based in Yokosuka.

Cmdr. Jennifer Pontius, commanding officer of the USS Milius, said that the destroyer will provide enhanced missile defense capabilities.

Although the area is a very complex region, the destroyer is ready for its duties, she added.

The Milius, equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles, has been upgraded to a destroyer with the cutting-edge Baseline 9 combat system. Its antiair combat capabilities have also been enhanced.

The ship will join the strike group led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, also based in Yokosuka.

Last year, two Aegis destroyers at the Yokosuka base had collision accidents. One occurred off the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, and the other off Singapore. One of the two ships is under repair in the United States, and the other at the Yokosuka base. Jiji Press