Washington DC, August 28: The United States has on Tuesday approved USD 3.3 billion worth sale of anti-ballistic missiles to Tokyo, following North Korea’s repeated provocation of launches of ballistic missiles close behind Japan that could threaten the American close ally.
Japan is expected to purchase at least 73 of the Raytheon-made SM-3 Block IIA missiles, built to be launched by the vessel-board Aegis system in order to intercept any incoming ballistic missiles, according to the Pentagon.
The development comes as Pyongyang is intensifying its missiles launch conducts in the region that could threaten both the US and Japan, according to Japan Today.
This month, North Korea has conducted some seven launches of new short-range ballistic missiles, with one of them that flew far enough to reach Japan.
The Pentagon has also approved the anti-ballistic missiles sale to Denmark, Lithuania, South Korea, and Hungary, that together worth another USD 943 million.
Hungary is expected to purchase 180 AIM-120C-7 advanced medium-range air-to-air systems, built by Raytheon – the huge defence contractor.
Denmark is expected to purchase sonar systems of low frequency, as well as, Lockheed Martin’s sonobuoys. Lithuania will buy 500 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles with South Korea likely to obtain 31 MK 54 lightweight torpedos, built to be conducted from P-8 Poseidon submarine-hunting aircraft.