Japan Signs USD 287 M Contract for SM-3s

Japan signed a 287.3 million dollar contract with the United States for the SM-3 Block IIA interceptor missiles. The deal was made by the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) of Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) to acquire an undefined number of Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA (RIM-161D) hit-to-kill interceptor missiles from the United States.

In August 2019, the U.S. Defence security cooperation agency (DSCA) announced that the Department of State had approved a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of 73 Raytheon SM-3 Block IIA interceptor missiles, plus support, to Japan at an estimated cost of 3.9 billion dollars. Also included in the proposed sale were Mk 29 Canisters with packing, handling, storage, and transportation (PHS&T) kits, up to 10 Special Assignment Airlift Mission flights, technical assistance, engineering, and logistical support services.

Washington and Tokyo are collectively producing the SM-3 Block IIA to defeat short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. It is an interceptor made to operate as part of the Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) system. It can be launched from Aegis-equipped ships and Aegis Ashore BMD sites. A flight test of the missile was conducted in February 2017, resulting in the first intercept of a ballistic missile target using the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3).