Japan secures $900M missile deal to bolster defense
Japan has requested the purchase of up to 150 SM-6 anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic missiles from the American government and has received approval. Let's look at what the Land of the Rising Sun will receive.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) approved a potential sale to Japan for a maximum of $900 million. This package includes 150 SM-6 missiles with Mk 21 Mod 3 VLS vertical launchers, alongside a logistical and training package covering spare parts.
The missiles are intended to enhance the capabilities of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). They will be deployed on existing ships equipped with the AEGIS system and on future destroyers from the 13DDX family. This follows other U.S. approvals for arms deliveries, including the AIM-120 AMRAAM and AGM-158B JASSM-ER missiles to Japan, significantly boosting its capabilities amid tensions with China.
SM-6 anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic missiles - the US Navy's economic shield
Introduced in 2013, SM-6 missiles are part of the Standard Missile (SM) system. They were developed to engage challenging ballistic targets at greater distances than the SM-2MR Block IIIA and SM-2MR Block IIIB missiles but at a lower cost than SM-3 missiles.
An SM-6 missile costs about $4 million each and features a two-stage construction where the booster detaches after burning out. Then, a second rocket engine takes over, with an operating profile designed to deliver a 141-pound fragmentation warhead as close to the target as possible.
The missile relies on a dual-mode radar seeker for precision targeting. It can operate semi-actively or actively using radar waves from the ship's radar, with the emitter mounted on the missile.
Additionally, the radar seeker is complemented by an inertial and satellite navigation system. This support is crucial because the seeker's active mode has a limited range and must be "guided" to within several miles of the target. This is especially important considering the SM-6 missile's range of approximately 311 miles and maximum interception altitude of up to 21 miles.
