The US-Japan ballistic missile defence open architecture research (BMDOAR) programme to develop software for a shipborne ballistic missile defence system has been cancelled due to disagreements on technology export.
Japan’s insistence on US obtaining prior consent from the Japanese Government to export the software to a third country has been cited as the reason for cancellation.
A senior Japanese Defence Ministry official said the US did not want to be bound by complicated procedures and terms set by Japan.
The software was intended to improve onboard computer displays of Aegis guided missile systems and to provide a backup system in case of system failure.
The estimated $113.3m joint research on the ballistic missile defence project started in 2004, with development set to begin in fiscal 2010 and last about six years.
The US, however, has decided to continue with the project alone, according to Asahi.com.
