Japan Plans to Export SM-3 Missile Interceptors

The Japanese Government is planning to allow the export of interceptor missile systems, amending a long-standing policy of banning the export of arms and weapons.

Japan could sell the Standard Missile-3 block 2A system, an advanced version of the SM-3 series that it is jointly developing with the US and other countries.

In 1967, Japan banned the export of arms and weapons to other countries, but excluded the US from the ban in 1983.

In October 2009, the US urged Japan to consider exporting the new variant of the SM-3 missiles and has recently notified Japan that it will begin shipping the SM-3 block 2A missiles, according to the Japan Times.