The State Department has approved the potential $133.3 million foreign military sale of Standard Missile-3 Block IIA missiles to Japan.

The deal, announced on Tuesday, is set to provide the government of Japan with four Standard Missile-3 Block IIA missiles, along with four Mk 29 missile canisters, if approved by the U.S. Congress, which has been notified of the potential sale.

The contract will also provide U.S. government and contracted technical assistance, along with transportation, engineering and logistics support services, the Pentagon said in a press release.

The Raytheon produced Standard Missile-3 Interceptor is a defensive weapon used to destroy short and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency says the proposed sale will "contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that has been, and continues to be, a force for political stability and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region."

The sale is aimed at bolstering the ballistic defense capability for Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force, though the DSCA said the sale of equipment will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

Raytheon is tapped to produce the SM-3 missiles, while BAE Systems will provide the launching canisters.

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Raytheon to support Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile for U.S., NATO partners
Washington (UPI) Jan 4, 2018
Naval Sea Systems Command has tapped Raytheon with a contract to support the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile design agent. The contract, announced on Wednesday by the Department of Defense, is worth more than $37.5 million and falls under a cost-plus-fixed fee modification to a previously awarded contract for technical and engineering support of Raytheon's Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile. ... read more

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