US Approves $821 Million Sale Of SM-2 Standard Missiles To Japan

The US State Department has approved a possible sale of SM-2 Block IIIB Standard Missiles, equipment and support to Japan for an estimated cost is $821 million.

The Government of Japan has requested a possible sale of up to two hundred forty-six (246) Standard Missile (SM-2), Block IIIB Vertical Launching Tactical All-Up Rounds, RIM-66M-09. This request also includes MK 13 MOD 0 Vertical Launching System Canisters, operator manuals and technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services. The total estimated value of Major Defense Equipment (MDE) is $685 million. The total overall estimated value is $821 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement Tuesday.

The DSCA delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on July 15, 2016.

These SM-2 Block IIIB missiles will be used for anti-air warfare at sea. Japan currently fields four Kongo-class and two Atago-class destroyers, all of which are equipped with the Aegis Combat system and SM-2 Block IIIA/IIIB missiles. Japan is also building two new Aegis-equipped destroyers based on a modified Atago-class hull.

The SM-2 Block IIIB missiles proposed in this sale will be used on these two future destroyers as well as supplementing Japan’s missile inventory. Combined with the Aegis combat system, the SM-2 Block IIIB provides significantly enhanced area defense capabilities over critical East Asian and Western Pacific airand sea-lines of communication. Japan has two Intermediate-Level Maintenance Facilities capable of maintaining the SM-2 Block IIIB and will have no difficulty absorbing these new missiles into its armed forces.

The principal contractors will be Raytheon and BAE systems. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.