MOORESTOWN, N.J. — March 13, 2026 : Lockheed Martin has completed the delivery of the second shipset of AN/SPY-7(V)1 radar equipment for Japan’s Aegis System Equipped Vessel (ASEV) program to the Japan Ministry of Defense. The delivery was finalized on March 12, 2026, marking the completion of the major radar hardware deliveries required for Japan’s current two-ship ASEV procurement program.
The transfer was conducted through a Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) arrangement facilitated by Mitsubishi Corporation. The shipment includes radar equipment intended for the second ASEV warship being built for Japan’s expanding ballistic missile defense architecture.
Integration and Testing Procedures
Before installation at Japanese shipyards, the full second radar shipset will undergo system integration and operational testing at Lockheed Martin’s Production and Test Center (PTC-2) located in Moorestown, New Jersey. The land-based facility allows engineers to integrate the radar system with the Aegis Combat System and verify operational performance prior to shipboard installation.
Testing at the Moorestown site is intended to validate the radar’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capabilities, ensuring the system can detect, track, and support engagement of multiple airborne threats simultaneously. Conducting full integration testing prior to installation helps reduce technical risks during the ship construction phase and supports the planned commissioning schedule of the vessels.
Chandra Marshall, vice president of Multi-Domain Combat Solutions at Lockheed Martin, stated that the on-time delivery demonstrates the production readiness of the radar system and the company’s ability to meet program timelines for Japan.
Status of Japan’s ASEV Program
The ASEV program was initiated by the Japan Ministry of Defense to strengthen the country’s ballistic missile defense and long-range air defense capabilities. The program includes the construction of two large surface combatants designed specifically to operate advanced Aegis missile defense systems.
Ship construction responsibilities are divided between two Japanese shipbuilders. The first vessel is being built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, while the second vessel will be constructed by Japan Marine United.
According to the current program timeline, the first ASEV is scheduled for commissioning in Japan Fiscal Year 2027, followed by the second vessel in Fiscal Year 2028.
The delivery of the second radar shipset follows an earlier milestone in the program. Lockheed Martin previously delivered the first complete ASEV radar shipset, including four radar antenna arrays, in July 2025. That system reached the initial “light-off” phase in September 2025, marking the start of full system testing and integration activities.
AN/SPY-7 Radar System Capabilities
The AN/SPY-7(V)1 is a solid-state active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar designed to provide continuous 360-degree surveillance, tracking, and missile defense targeting capabilities. The system uses modular radar arrays and digital beamforming technology to detect and track multiple targets simultaneously across long ranges.
The radar is designed to counter a range of threats, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and advanced aerial targets. Its architecture supports integration with the Aegis Combat System, enabling coordinated tracking, targeting, and engagement operations within integrated air and missile defense networks.
The SPY-7 system is part of a broader family of radar technologies developed by Lockheed Martin. Variants of the underlying radar architecture are also being deployed by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency for the TPY-6 radar system intended for the defense of Guam. The radar technology has also been selected for other international naval programs, including Canada’s River-class destroyers and F‑110 Multi‑Mission Frigate vessels being developed for Spain.
Industrial Collaboration and Domestic Production
To support long-term sustainment of the radar systems in Japan, Lockheed Martin has expanded cooperation with Japanese industry partners. In February 2026, the company finalized a procurement agreement with Fujitsu Limited to support domestic production of key SPY-7 components.
Under the agreement, Fujitsu will manufacture the Subarray Suite Power Supply Line Replaceable Unit (PS LRU), an important subsystem responsible for power management within the radar’s modular architecture. Establishing local production capability for the component allows Japan to support long-term maintenance and operational readiness of the ASEV fleet within its domestic industrial base.
Program Background
Japan selected the SPY-7 radar for the ASEV program following the 2020 cancellation of the Aegis Ashore land-based missile defense system. The ASEV ships were subsequently designed to provide equivalent or expanded missile defense capability at sea while maintaining persistent coverage of regional missile threats.
The vessels will serve as a central component of Japan’s layered ballistic missile defense network, operating alongside Aegis-equipped destroyers and land-based radar systems.
With the delivery of the second radar shipset completed, the ASEV program continues progressing toward its planned commissioning timeline, with additional system integration, testing, and ship construction activities scheduled through the late 2020s.
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