{"id":27981,"date":"2018-07-30T12:42:09","date_gmt":"2018-07-30T12:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/07\/30\/japan-is-ready-to-ink-a-12-billion-contract-with-lockheed-martin-for-missile-defense-systems\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:20:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:20:53","slug":"japan-is-ready-to-ink-a-12-billion-contract-with-lockheed-martin-for-missile-defense-systems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2018\/07\/30\/japan-is-ready-to-ink-a-12-billion-contract-with-lockheed-martin-for-missile-defense-systems\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan is ready to ink a $1.2 billion contract with Lockheed Martin for missile defense systems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The Japanese government has officially chosen Lockheed Martin to provide the radar arrays for its forthcoming Aegis Ashore<\/a> sites, the Defense Ministry announced Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The news follows earlier reports that Lockheed had beaten out Raytheon for the job, which is expected to cost about $1.2 billion, according to a Reuters report<\/a>. The choice was between Raytheon\u2019s SPY-6 \u2014 the air and missile defense radar destined to be the main sensor for the U.S. Navy\u2019s DDG Flight III \u2014 and Lockheed\u2019s Long Range Discrimination Radar<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lockheed\u2019s radar is slated to be installed in Alaska as part of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense System by 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japan plans to build two Aegis Ashore stations, a response to North Korea\u2019s rapid development of ballistic missiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fact that the project is moving forward will be welcome news to the U.S. Navy, which has been vocal in recent months about the need to move some of its sea-based BMD patrols to fixed shore installations, wherever practicable, and reserve the Navy\u2019s capabilities for times of heightened need or emergencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\t