Lockheed delivers AN/SPY-7(V)1 radar antenna to Japan

Lockheed Martin has delivered the first AN/SPY-7(V)1 radar antenna through the Mitsubishi Corporation to Japan’s Ministry of Defence for integration onto the Aegis System Equipped Vessel (ASEV), according to a 15th January press release. 

Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force is procuring two ASEVs that are expected to enter service by the end of March 2029, according to Naval News. The primary mission of the ships will be missile and air defence, with the Japanese MoD stating that they will be capable of intercepting ballistic missiles and that in the future they will be upgraded to counter hypersonic glide vehicles.

The AN/SPY-7 radar will be a critical enabler to these capabilities and so will proceed to an integration phase at Lockheed’s Production Test Center (PTC) 2 in Moorestown, which supports delivery of an operational system to Japan. “PTC allows for the first integration of all the subsystems of the Aegis Weapon System, including the radar, illuminators, all computing hardware, and the cabling,” Lockheed states on its website. 

The ASEVs are expected to have 128 vertical launch system cells carrying SM-3 ballistic missile interceptors and SM-6 missiles, which can have a range of uses including strikes against ships and land-based targets as well as missile defence. 

Tech profile: AN/SPY-7

This 3 minute video from the US Missile Defense Agency does a good job of explaining why this sort of technology is important for missile defence. Credit: MDA

The core technology in the AN/SPY-7(V)1 radar is the scalable and software defined SPY-7 radar system, which is also being used to build the Long-Range Discrimination Radar, a land-based radar system that is designed to provide greater resolution and tracking for the US DoD’s Ground Based Midcourse Defence system. The radar achieved its first live target track in the ASEV configuration in 2024; the radar monitored objects in space for that test. The radar itself uses solid state technology which is more efficient in terms of power use and in switching modes of operation than conventional radar technology. It also allows for more advanced signal processing. The Japanese MoD claims that it has five times the tracking capability of the SPY-1 radar that equips standard Aegis systems. 

Calibre comment

Japan and its allies face several concerning dilemmas in the Indo-Pacific, not least of them is North Korea’s consistent missile tests, which often land in the Sea of Japan, demonstrating the country’s ability to hold the region at risk. Its arsenal includes short-range, medium-range, and intercontinental ballistic missiles that could reach the US. Some of them have a range of around 1,000 km which would enable Pyongyang to reach Japan, while preserving its longer range systems for other targets. The North Korean regime has conducted more than 240 missile tests since 2012, and is likely to have gained considerable experience and knowledge from those tests that may help improve the performance of its missiles. 

China’s missile arsenal is also evolving and improving, with 250 ballistic missile launches in 2021 and even an apparent ship-launched anti-ship ballistic missile in 2022. The country’s land and ship-based missile suite is arguably the greatest threat in the region should a war between Beijing and Washington erupt. It is safe to assume that China would seek to decisively shape a conflict in its opening stages by conducting massed strikes against adversary vessels and infrastructure. 

If a conflict does start in the region, Japan will likely support US and South Korea in a missile defence operation, so the interoperability of the Aegis systems and the Collaborative Engagement Capability carried by the ASEV will help the vessels integrate into larger operations with regional partners. However, the AN/SPY-7 radar and ASEV will be valuable systems outside of a conflict as they will improve the missile tracking capabilities and the understanding of any missile launches. 

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on 16th January, 2025.