The US Department of State has approved a possible USD3.29 billion Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of 73 Raytheon Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Block IIA (RIM-161D) hit-to-kill interceptor missiles – along with related equipment and services – to Japan, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced in a 27 August statement.
A target resembling an advanced ballistic missile is seen here being launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii on 26 October 2018 as part of an intercept flight test involving an SM-3 Block IIA missile. (US Missile Defense Agency)
Also included in the proposed deal, which still needs to be approved by the US Congress, are MK 29 canisters, up to ten Special Assignment Airlift Mission flights, US government and contractor assistance, engineering and logistical support services, and other related elements of logistics and programme support, according to the DSCA.
The proposed sale “will provide Japan with an increased ballistic missile defense capability to assist in defending the Japanese homeland and US personnel stationed there”, said the DSCA, adding that the Northeast Asian country will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles into its armed forces.
The principal contractors will be Raytheon Missile Systems and BAE Systems, stated the DSCA.
These are not the first SM-3 Block IIAs requested by Tokyo. In January 2018, the DSCA announced that the US State Department had approved the possible sale of four of these missiles for an estimated USD133.3 million, adding that the weapons would be used by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).
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