US defence prime Lockheed Martin announced on 22 May that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japanese information and communications technology and digital services company Fujitsu Limited to establish the latter as a supplier of the SPY-7 Subarray Suite Power Supply Line Replaceable Unit (PS LRU).
The collaboration will facilitate anticipated purchase orders supporting the Japan Ministry of Defense’s (MoD) Aegis System Equipped Vessel (ASEV) program in 2025.
“By locally manufacturing critical components for the SPY-7 radar, Japan can have complete confidence that this system will be fully supported and sustained for decades to come,” said Paul Lemmo, vice president and general manager at Lockheed Martin.
The two companies had signed an earlier MoU in 2024 to expand Lockheed Martin’s solid-state radar production and sustainment in Japan.
“Fujitsu is honored to contribute to the manufacturing of the SPY-7 radar, especially in the production of the PS LRU, a critical component of the system,” said Tsuneo Hayashi, corporate executive officer, SEVP, Fujitsu Limited.
“Fujitsu will further expand its collaboration with Lockheed Martin on the SPY-7 radar, contributing to its sustainment in Japan and helping to strengthen national security,” added Hayashi.
According to the MoD, the ASEV will have a standard displacement of 12,000 tons and will be 190 m in length. In contrast, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s (JMSDF) latest Maya-class guided missile destroyer displaces 8,200 tons and measures 170 m long.
The ASEV will also feature an impressive arsenal, with a 64-cell vertical launch system (VLS) in a forward mount as well as another 64-cell VLS aft for a total of 128 missile cells. These are expected to accommodate SM-3 and SM-6 surface-to-air missiles (SAM) for air defence as well as the future Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) to address cruise missile and hypersonic missile threats. The VLS could also accommodate standoff weapons such as the Tomahawk cruise missile for neutralising targets ashore.
Lockheed Martin is an established supplier for the JMSDF, having delivered systems and sensors to equip the service’s Kongō-, Atago- and Maya-class destroyers for more than three decades.
by Jr Ng
