
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 29, 1990                   TAG: 9003290656
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/6   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: TOKYO                                LENGTH: Short

U.S., JAPAN MAY JOIN IN MILITARY RESEARCH

Japan would provide expertise in missile design, submarine technology and development of a rocket engine in a proposed joint research project with the United States, officials said today.

"Talks still are under way. We have not yet reached agreement in concrete terms on joint research" on military technology with the United States, said a Japanese Defense Agency official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Local newspapers reported today that the two countries have agreed on the projects. Quoting a Defense Agency source, the dailies Yomiuri Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun said the two countries are expected to reach official agreement this summer.

The three fields agreed on for cooperation include the design of target-seeking devices for missiles, technology to demagnetize submarines and ships to make them more difficult to detect, and development of a new type of rocket engine that could be used in missile systems, the news reports said.

The Defense Agency official told The Associated Press both countries were discussing whether a fourth research area of projectiles capable of piercing through the body of a tank will be included in the joint research.

In January 1988, the two countries agreed to promote joint research on military technology, in addition to joint development of Japan's next-generation jet fighter, the FSX, which formally started this year.

by CNB