The Japanese Ministry of Defense has received its first set of four AN/SPY-7(V)1 radar antennas from Lockheed Martin, which will be installed on the country’s inaugural Aegis System Equipped Vessel (ASEV).
Japan is constructing two ASEVs—one by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the other by Japan Marine United Corporation—with service entry expected in 2028 and 2029. The SPY-7 radar will enable these vessels to detect, track, and respond to multiple threats simultaneously, including ballistic missiles, aerial attacks, and hypersonic weapons. Its modular design also allows it to distinguish real threats from decoys.
Delivered under a Direct Commercial Sale agreement, the radars were supplied through Mitsubishi Corporation after passing extensive acceptance testing.
