Japan selects Northrop Grumman's interceptor concept for BMD ships

A computer-generated image of Japan's future Aegis System Equipped Vessel. (Japan MoD)

Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) has agreed to adopt the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) concept proposed by Northrop Grumman, which will most certainly go onboard the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's (JMSDF's) future fleet of ballistic missile defence (BMD)-specific ships.

This agreement to move forward with Northrop Grumman was made in conjunction with the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the Japan MoD disclosed in a statement issued on 25 September.

In the statement, the MoD noted the US MDA had signed a basic design contract with Raytheon and Northrop Grumman in 2022, although requirements for the interceptor, which would also fulfil Washington's BMD requirement, were conceived in 2021.

Japan came onboard the programme in August 2023 and signed an agreement to co-operate on the project in May 2024.

Eventually, the two countries decided to further develop the programme based on Northrop Grumman's proposal after evaluating the offerings from both companies based on factors such as performance, cost, and delivery timeline, the MoD added.

With the selection of Northrop Grumman's GPI concept, Japan would now proceed to award contracts to domestic companies that can design and manufacture selected components of the GPI.

“In making this progress with the GPI, Japan's integrated air and missile defence capabilities will be fundamentally strengthened while contributing to an improvement in the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-US alliance,” read the statement.

“The MoD will work close with the US Department of Defense to complete the development of the concept and will work to enhance this alliance with this joint development,” it added.

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