U.S. approves military sale to Japan for ferry support

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan for aircraft ferry support and related equipment and services valued at an estimated $159 million, the department said.

The request would add ferry support and other logistics and program elements to a previously implemented case that fell below the congressional notification threshold. That original Foreign Military Sales case, valued at $99.9 million and containing no major defense equipment, covered AN/ARC-210 and high-frequency radios, modifications support and equipment, communications gear, spare parts and consumables, repair-and-return services, classified and unclassified software, technical publications and documentation, transportation, and U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support.

According to the State Department, the proposed sale supports U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by strengthening a key ally that contributes to political stability and economic progress in the Pacific. It said the package would bolster Japan’s ability to address current and future threats by enhancing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as airborne early warning and control capabilities. Japan is expected to readily integrate the items and services into its armed forces.

The department added that the sale would not alter the basic military balance in the region.

Boeing, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is identified as the principal contractor. The U.S. government is not currently aware of any offset arrangements tied to the potential sale; any such agreements would be defined in negotiations between Japan and the contractor.

Implementation of the sale would not require assigning additional U.S. government or contractor representatives to Japan.