Successful Aegis Combat System Test Brings BMD to JMSDF Fleet.

The JS ATAGO (DDG-177), supported by the U.S. Navy, Missile Defense Agency and Lockheed Martin, used an upgraded Aegis Combat System, testing their Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capability for the first time.

JS ATAGO is now the most advanced warship in the Japanese fleet following this modernization effort.

The JS ATAGO is now the most advanced warship in the Japanese fleet following this modernization effort. The JS ATAGO Aegis Weapon System merges BMD into an Integrated Air and Missile Defense capability using commercial-off-the-shelf and open architecture technologies including the Aegis Common Source Library (CSL).

JS ATAGO is the first international ship to benefit from the CSL, which allows far greater interoperability across the fleet, reducing development training and sustainment costs. It also improves flexibility in crew assignments.

"I commend the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force for their commitment to affordability and innovation," said Mary Keifer, director, Lockheed Martin's Aegis International programs, Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors. "This baseline modernization effort streamlined their lifetime support costs and provided a means to gain advanced BMD capability."

This successful BMD test builds upon joint research investments by the United States and Japan. Lockheed Martin is developing a Baseline 9 variant computer program for deployment on Japan's newest Aegis destroyers.