Japan requests SM-3 missiles in FMS valued at US$ 1.15 billion.

U.S. State Department officials approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Japan of up to 56 Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IB missiles for an estimated cost of US$ 1.15 billion, Mariana Iriarte reports on Military Embedded Systems. Also included in the FMS are missile canisters, U.S. Government and contractor representatives' technical assistance, engineering and logistical support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support.

The Missile Defense Agency and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force launch an SM-3 Block IB missile from the Japan destroyer, JS ATAGO (DDG-177) off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, Sept. 12, 2018 (Picture Source: Missile Defense Agency)

The prime contractor for the SM-3 Block IB All Up Rounds will be Raytheon Missile Systems located in Tucson, Arizona. The prime contractor for the canisters will be BAE Systems in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Whether on land or at sea, the SM-3 Block IB Interceptor continues to excel in testing. In 2014, the Block IB variant was successfully launched for the first time from an Aegis Ashore testing site in Hawaii. Later in the year, the missile destroyed a short-range ballistic missile target during a highly complex integrated air and missile defence exercise in the Pacific Ocean. The interceptor most recently participated in an international NATO-led exercise simulating real-life threat scenarios. Strong cooperation between allied nations and industry helps ensure readiness to defeat complex threats around the world.

The SM-3 Block IB interceptor has an enhanced two-colour infrared seeker and upgraded steering and propulsion capability that uses short bursts of precision propulsion to direct the missile toward incoming targets. It became operational in 2014, deploying for the first time on U.S. Navy ships worldwide.