Japan requests SM-3 missiles from US
The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1B missiles and SM-3 Block 2A missiles to Japan, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on 19 November.
In a package worth $561 million, Japan has requested eight SM-3 Block 1B and 13 SM-3 Block 2A missiles. Also included are SM-3 1B and 2A missile canisters, engineering and logistical support services and other related elements of logistical and programme support.
If the sale goes ahead, the prime contractor for the SM-3 Block 1B and 2A all up rounds will be Raytheon Missile Systems. For the Mk-21 and Mk-29 canisters, BAE Systems will be the prime contractor.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Shoreline vulnerability drives Gulf interest in USV networks]()
Shoreline vulnerability drives Gulf interest in USV networks
Ukraine’s combat-proven Magura uncrewed surface vessel is attracting Gulf state interest as the Iran war exposes gaps in layered maritime air defence, raising questions about whether low-cost attritable systems can gain a foothold in a procurement culture historically drawn to high-end Western platforms.
-
![Sweden swayed by speed to capability in French frigate win]()
Sweden swayed by speed to capability in French frigate win
Naval Group has secured a contract to supply four Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention frigates to the Royal Swedish Navy, extending the French naval industry’s reach into Northern Europe and showing why speed to capability has become the defining criterion in today’s defence procurement contests.
-
![SOF Week 2026: US NSW explores 3D-printed USVs for forward-deployed operations]()
SOF Week 2026: US NSW explores 3D-printed USVs for forward-deployed operations
US Naval Special Warfare Command is assessing the feasibility of rapidly producing expendable mid-sized USVs in theatre to support SOF and maritime security missions.
-
![SOF Week 2026: MARSOC selects upgraded Shark Marine dive navigation system]()
SOF Week 2026: MARSOC selects upgraded Shark Marine dive navigation system
MARSOC is procuring the Shark Marine Dive Tablet 2 to address a longstanding combat diver navigation capability gap, improving underwater positioning, situational awareness and integration with existing diver propulsion vehicles.
