US approves $900 million missile sale to the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force
An artist’s impression of the Japanese ASEV destroyer. (Image: Japan MoD)
The US State Department has approved a US$900 million potential Foreign Military Sale to Japan for Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) Block I missiles and related equipment.
The Government of Japan requested the opportunity to buy up to 150 SM-6 Block I missiles and the State Department agreed the sale in principle.
Along with the missiles, the sale would include non-MDE items, including: MK 21 Mod 3 vertical launch system canisters, component parts and support equipment, and the continued engineering, integration and test (EI&T) material and support required to produce the SM-6 Block I missiles.
The sale would also include special
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
UK’s Type 31 frigate balances cost pressure with long-term export ambition
The UK shipbuilder’s full-year results to the end of March revealed the impact of the £140 million charge linked to design changes and rework on the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate programme.
-
US Navy expands non-standard acquisitions to rapidly field emerging technologies
The US Navy is increasing the use of OTA obligations to accelerate the procurement of seabed-subsea, littoral, expeditionary and uncrewed solutions.
-
Can Portugal solve NATO’s uncrewed systems development challenge?
NATO has spent more than a decade building one of the world’s most sophisticated maritime uncrewed experimentation ecosystems, but still lacks a way to translate this testing into alliance-wide operational capability. Portugal now believes it has the answer.
-
Eurosatory 2026: Schiebel’s frigate-first strategy indicates a shift in UAV competition
Schiebel is pursuing opportunities in the UK and France while leveraging its integration with Naval Group’s FDI frigate programme to create new naval business across Europe.