Japan enhances defence with $900M SM‑6 missile purchase
Japan has requested approval from the American government to purchase up to 150 SM-6 anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic missiles. Let's see precisely what the Land of the Rising Sun will receive.
The American Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced approval for a potential sale to Japan of 150 SM-6 missiles with Mk 21 Mod 3 VLS vertical launchers. The sale would involve a logistical and training package that includes spare parts, with a maximum price of $900 million.
The missiles are intended to strengthen the current capabilities of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and will be deployed on existing ships with the AEGIS system and future destroyers from the 13DDX family. This is another US approval for arms deliveries, following the AIM-120 AMRAAM and AGM-158B JASSM-ER missiles for Japan, which significantly enhance its capabilities in the event of a conflict with China.
SM-6 anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic missiles - the US Navy's economic shield
The SM-6 missiles, which belong to the Standard Missile (SM) system, were introduced into service in 2013. They were developed to counter difficult ballistic targets at a greater distance than the SM-2MR Block IIIA and SM-2MR Block IIIB missiles but at a lower cost than the SM-3 missiles.
The SM-6 missiles, which have a two-stage design and cost about $4 million each, are designed to deliver a 64-kilogram fragmentation warhead as close to the target as possible. After burning out, the booster detaches, and a second rocket engine with a different operating profile takes over propulsion.
For precise targeting, it relies on a dual-mode radar seeker. It can operate semi-actively by relying on radar waves generated by the ship's radar or actively, where the wave emitter is mounted on the missile.
Additionally, the radar seeker is supported by an inertial and satellite navigation system. The active mode of the seeker has a limited range and must be "guided" to within several kilometres of the target. This is particularly important given that the SM-6 missile's range is approximately 500 kilometres, with a maximum interception altitude of up to 34 kilometres.
