Japan's Aegis leak investigation broadens

TOKYO, May 23 (UPI) -- Data on the U.S.-made Aegis defense system may not have been the only classified material leaked by members of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Sources told the Kyodo news service it appears information on the advanced SM-3 surface-to-air missile and the Link 16 data exchange system also made their way into the hands of unauthorized military personnel.

The sources close to the military and civilian investigation into the leaks, gave no other details but "police confirmed the latest cases of information leak, based on analyses of voluntarily submitted materials, such as personal computers," the report said.

The report was published Wednesday in The Japan Times.

Military and civilian investigators began looking into the leak of Aegis data in March when the information was discovered on a computer in the home of a petty officer who serves as a member of a destroyer flotilla. It was soon found that other MSDF personnel improperly had information on the Aegis naval system, which is a state-of-the-art missile guidance system.

The SM-3 is an anti-ballistic missile missile capable of hitting its target in the upper atmosphere and in an integral part of ballistic missile defense. Japan is slated soon to receive such missiles from the United States.

The Link 16 is said to be a high-capacity electronic data transfer system for information from naval vessels to combat aircraft.

The leaks have thrown a wrench into the start of closer U.S,-Japanese military ties, which include the sharing with Japan of U.S. military information and combat systems.

Reports said authorities have so far conducted 300 interviews about the leaked information, and last weekend searched a MSDF facility.