The Diplomat – The U.S. State Department has cleared a possible sale of 56 Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IB missiles for an estimated cost of $1.150 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in an April 9 statement.
Next to the SM-3 Block IB missiles, the sale includes missile canisters, technical assistance, engineering and logistical support services, and overall logistics and program support.
Notably, the deal is still subject to congressional approval and the quantity and price of Japan’s latest batch of SM-3 Block IB missiles may change before the conclusion of a final sales agreement.
“The proposed sale will provide Japan with increased ballistic missile defense capability to assist in defending the Japanese homeland and U.S. personnel stationed there,” DSCA said in a statement. “Japan will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles into its armed forces.”
