The Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD) announced this week its intention to halt deployment of the Aegis Ashore missile defense system citing difficulties in ensuring that rocket boosters from the interceptors do not fall in populated areas. The real reason may actually have to do with the radar system, namely SPY-6 and SPY-7. Yoshihiro Inaba has the story.

Raytheon Company will produce and deliver SM-3® Block IB interceptors under a $2.1 billion, multi-year U.S. Missile Defense Agency contract. It is the first multi-year contract for the SM-3 program, and covers fiscal years 2019–2023.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), U.S. Navy and Raytheon are set to put the SM-3 Block IIA through its paces by testing the interceptor against an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time.

Raytheon Company was awarded a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA contract modification as announced by the U.S. Department of Defense on Dec. 20, 2019.

The U.S. State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan of up to 73 Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA missiles for an estimated cost of $3.295 billion.

Raytheon's missiles played vital roles in the Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO military exercise called Formidable Shield 2019, which took place off the coast of Scotland and included scenarios of no-notice target launches, the US company said on May 28, 2019.

The U.S. State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan of up to fifty-six (56) Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IB missiles for an estimated cost of $1.150 billion.