Pentagon OKs Missile Defense Sale to Japan

A number of U.S. firms have received approval from the Defense Department to make a $475 million missile defense sale to Japan, Dow Jones reported Friday (see GSN, April 13).

If the full deal goes through, Lockheed Martin and two other primary contractors would provide Tokyo with nine Standard Missile 3 Block 1A, upgrades to one Aegis weapons system, and other material and support, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.

Japan to date has been the major foreign partner in U.S. missile shield efforts, and is developing its own defenses.

“It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist Japan to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability, which will contribute to the acceptable military balance in the area,” the agency said.

Congress rarely uses its authority to block weapons deals such as the sale to Japan, Dow Jones reported (Rebecca Christie, Dow Jones Newswires/CNNMoney.com, June 8).

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