Japan Approved For Standard Missile Purchase
A large batch of SM-3 missiles has been requested and approved as part of Japan’s efforts to improve its anti-ballistic missile defenses
The U.S. Navy’s guided-missile cruiser Lake Erie fires a Standard Missile-3 Block IB during a trial in the Pacific. (photo: U.S. Navy)
The U.S. Navy’s guided-missile cruiser Lake Erie fires a Standard Missile-3 Block IB during a trial in the Pacific. (photo: U.S. Navy)

As part of its drive to improve defenses in the light of increased ballistic missile threats, Japan has been given the green light to acquire 56 Raytheon RIM-161C Standard Missile-3 Block IB interceptors. On April 9 the DSCA (Defense Security Cooperation Agency) announced that the U.S. State Department has approved the Foreign Military Sale, and handed the certification to Congress for final approval. Japan had earlier requested an initial batch of eight Blk IB missiles in November 2018.