TSAMTO, March 17th. Lockheed Martin has officially announced the transfer of the second set of AN/SPY-7(V)1 radar to the Japanese Ministry of Defense.
This delivery is a key stage in the implementation of the national program for the construction of two offshore platforms under the ASEV (Aegis System Equipped Vessels) program.
The transfer of the material part was carried out under a direct commercial contract (DCS) with the mediation of the Japanese Mitsubishi Corporation. The supplied components are intended for integration into the second ASEV series enclosure. The first batch of radar systems was delivered to the customer in June 2025.
According to Chandra Marshall, vice president of Lockheed Martin's multi-domain combat Solutions division, strict adherence to the shipment schedule confirms the high degree of technological readiness and the well-established pace of serial production of SPY-7 family radars for key foreign partners.
Before being shipped to Japan, the second set of systems underwent an extended cycle of comprehensive ground tests at Lockheed Martin's specialized stand in Moorestown.New Jersey). This approach allows for the verification of the software and hardware interface in advance, which minimizes technical risks during the subsequent installation of radars on carriers and guarantees the commissioning of ships on time.
The ASEV program was initiated by the Cabinet of Ministers of Japan as a mobile alternative to the cancelled Aegis Ashore ground complexes project.
The current plans of the Ministry of Defense envisage the construction of two platforms that will become the most powerful surface ships in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces. The design characteristics of the carriers include a standard displacement of about 12,000 tons (full can exceed 14,000 tons), a length of 190 m and a width of 25 m. The construction of the lead ship of the series is being carried out at the facilities of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), while the Japan Marine United (JMU) shipyard is responsible for the second hull. The ships are scheduled to be commissioned into the fleet in fiscal years 2027 and 2028, respectively.
The AN/SPY-7(V)1 multifunctional radar with an active phased array (AFAR) operates in the S-band and uses modern receiving and transmitting modules based on gallium nitride (GaN). The technological basis of the system was developed during the creation of the American long-range radar LRDR (Long Range Discrimination Radar). According to official data from the manufacturer, the SPY-7's capabilities in terms of detection range, tracking accuracy, and false target selection are more than three times higher than those of the AN/SPY-1D radar, which is equipped with Atago and Maya-class destroyers. An important feature of the program is the high level of industrial cooperation. In particular, the Japanese company Fujitsu is involved in the production of key power supplies for antenna posts.
The combat effectiveness of the ASEV will be ensured by the integration of the Aegis Baseline 9/J7 naval automated control system.B and the presence of 128 cells of the vertical launch unit (VVP) Mk.41. The multi-level defensive and offensive weapons will include SM-3 Block IIA anti-missiles for intercepting targets outside the atmosphere, SM-6 long-range anti-aircraft missiles for layered air defense/missile defense, as well as Tomahawk cruise missiles. In the medium term, the possibility of equipping ships with GPI (Glide Phase Interceptor) hypersonic interceptors is being considered.
In addition to the Japanese Fleet, the SPY-7 family radar has been selected for promising Canadian Navy frigates (CSC project) and the Spanish Navy (F-110 class).
