The U.S. State Department approved the sale of 73 Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA interceptor missiles to Japan including support at an estimated cost of $3.295 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a release.
Also in the proposed sale include Mk 29 Canisters with packing, handling, storage, and transportation (PHS&T) kits, up to 10 Special Assignment Airlift Mission flights, technical assistance, engineering and logistical support services and other support, the Tuesday, August 27 release added.
The prime contractor for the SM-3 Block IIA missiles will be Raytheon Missile Systems, while BAE Systems will be the prime contractor for the canisters and PHS&T kits.
The SM-3 Block IIA is being developed by the U.S. and Japan as part of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system. The missile is jointly developed by Raytheon and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with Mitsubishi reportedly managing the third-stage rocket motor and nose cone.
It uses a kinetic warhead to strike the target, the so-called hit-to-kill approach.
The latest purchase approval came as North Korea is expanding its offensive missile capabilities, having proven over the past two years the ability to launch medium- and long-range ballistic missiles.
This month North Korea has carried out at least seven tests of new short-range ballistic missiles, at least one of which flew far enough to reach Japan.
