State Department clears five foreign military sales, including $3.3B interceptor deal for Japan

By Justin Doubleday / August 27, 2019 at 4:27 PM

The State Department notified Congress today of five potential foreign military sales, including a $3.3 billion deal with Japan for Standard Missile-3 Block IIA interceptors.

The possible sale to Japan includes 73 SM-3 Block IIA missiles, as well as associated Mk-29 cannisters and other support equipment, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. Japan has co-developed the SM-3 Block IIA with the United States, involving an industry team of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Raytheon.

Earlier this year, the Pentagon’s top technology official directed an independent assessment of the SM-3 Block IIA before considering whether to transition the program to production.

Meanwhile, the State Department also approved of Lithuania purchasing 500 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles at an estimated cost of $170.8 million and Denmark buying Airborne Low Frequency Sonar Systems and Sonobuoys for an estimated $200 million, according to DSCA.

Additionally, Hungary has been cleared for a potential $500 million purchase of AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, while South Korea has been approved to buy $72 million worth of MK-54 Lightweight Torpedoes, DSCA announced today.

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