Lockheed Martin has completed validation of the first fully integrated Aegis System Equipped Vessel (ASEV) system for Japan, marking a major milestone in the development of the country’s next-generation integrated air and missile defence capability. The completed shipset includes all four AN/SPY-7(V)1 radar arrays, shipboard radar processing equipment, power and cooling systems, along with Aegis Combat System computing and display equipment. The system is now ready for packaging and shipment to Japan.
The equipment is expected to reach Japan later this year, where it will be installed and integrated aboard the first ASEV. It will then undergo final acceptance testing before the vessel enters service.The ASEV programme is designed to provide Japan with an advanced maritime air and missile defence capability. Each vessel will use four SPY-7 radar arrays to provide wide-area detection and tracking of ballistic missiles and airborne threats.
The radar system will work with the Aegis Combat System, creating an integrated platform capable of detecting, tracking and responding to multiple threats. The vessels are intended to provide additional protection for Japan’s airspace, homeland and critical maritime routes.
Chandra Marshall, Vice President of Multi-Domain Combat Solutions at Lockheed Martin, said completing the first ASEV shipset on schedule demonstrates the maturity of the SPY-7 programme and the company’s commitment to Japan’s defence requirements. Once commissioned, the two ASEVs are expected to operate alongside Japan’s existing Kongo, Atago and Maya-class Aegis destroyers. Their common Aegis Combat System architecture will also support interoperability with allied naval forces, including the US Navy’s Aegis fleet.
Lockheed Martin has worked with the US Missile Defense Agency, Japan’s Ministry of Defense and industry partners during the development and validation process. The collaboration has focused on meeting requirements for system performance, reliability, maintenance and long-term support.
The programme is also creating opportunities for greater industrial cooperation between the United States and Japan. Key SPY-7 radar components will be produced in Japan to support future sustainment and production requirements. Lockheed Martin said the arrangement will help Japan maintain and support the radar systems over their operational life while strengthening local capabilities.
Work is also progressing on the second ASEV shipset. The second system is scheduled to begin a light-off at Lockheed Martin’s Production Test Center in Moorestown later this fall. The programme remains on schedule for the commissioning of the two ASEVs in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
Beyond hardware delivery, US and Japanese engineers are working together on maintenance procedures, training programmes and supply-chain planning. These efforts are intended to support the long-term operation and readiness of the radar and combat systems.
The first shipset’s shipment to Japan marks the transition from system-level testing in the United States to shipboard installation and testing. The milestone represents a significant step towards delivering Japan an integrated maritime defence capability based on the Aegis and SPY-7 systems.
