The US State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale to Japan on 3 September 2024, that would provide follow-on technical support for the AEGIS Class Destroyer, with an estimated cost of $150m.
Securing the sale is critical to ensuring the AEGIS Destroyer fleet remains an effective part of Japan’s Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF), stated a release from the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
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The DCSA specified that the provision of software patches and adaption data support was vital for the effective and safe operation of the AEGIS Combat Systems (ACS) suite. The ACS forms the basis of the vessels anti-ballistic missile capability, enabling the long-range surveillance, tracking, and engagement of short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles.
The proposed sale through the principal contractor Lockheed Martin will cover the AEGIS computer software updates, combat system integration, annual service agreements, and a host of sustainment services.
The first ACS sale to Japan was approved in 2019 in a deal worth $2.15bn. The system was originally built for US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to allow a the ships to engage ballistic missiles with the SM-3 missile.
Japan has seen increases in its defence budget in recent years, reflecting both a change in relations with local powers, and a heightened global tension.
Japan had long maintained a hedge between China and the US, balancing economic relations with China against security relations with the US. A change in posture from China has seen Japan give up this position, doubling its defence budget and seeking multiple multilateral security relationships between Japan, the US, and additional nations neighbour to Japan.
The additional defence spend has seen Japan pursue a dramatic expansion of its armed forces, and with current spending plans, it will have the world’s third largest military within five years. The AEGIS Class Destroyer is an important part of Japan’s fleet, with its significance driven by its role as a potential counter to any threat from North Korea’s continued ballistic missile test programme.
