, WASHINGTON: The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missiles as well as associated equipment and services.
The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $144 million.
The Government of Japan has requested a possible sale of 16 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) (4 pack canisters containing four missiles each) guided missiles, support equipment, modification kits, publications, spare and repair parts, U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $144 million.
Japan is one of the major political and economic powers in East Asia and the Western Pacific and a key ally of the United States in ensuring peace and stability in that region. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist Japan to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability, which will contribute to an acceptable military balance in the region. This proposed sale is consistent with these U.S. objectives and with the 1960 Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.
Japan needs these defense articles in order to defend its borders, and to remain militarily viable in the region. Japan also needs additional Patriot PAC-3 missiles to provide advanced air defense capability versus conventional threats and limited area defense against Theater Ballistic Missiles (TBM). Japan has already fielded the Patriot Air Defense System and is upgrading its ground support equipment to Configuration 3 to support the PAC-3 missiles. The proposed sale will provide Japan with an effective, state-of-the-art, anti-tactical missile capability and will greatly improve the defense posture of Japan. Japan will have no difficulty absorbing these PAC-3 missiles into its inventory.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractor will be Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Dallas, Texas. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will potentially require the assignment of up to two U.S. Government representatives and up to eight contractor representatives in Japan for two weeks following delivery of the missiles.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.
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